Setting course for new direction<\/p>\n
IT has become standard practice for a new leader of an Asean
\nnation to make a brief official tour of each member country,
\nwhich involves making a 'courtesy call' on his or her
\ncounterpart.<\/p>\n
However, when bilateral relations are somewhat strained, as it
\nhas been for some time between Malaysia and Singapore, such a
\nvisit raises speculation that something beyond diplomatic
\nniceties could be afoot.<\/p>\n
It was partly to play down expectations of substantial
\nnegotiations that led diplomats on both sides of the Causeway to
\nstress that the meeting between Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
\nand Goh Chok Tong on Monday was basically an open-ended first
\nstep. There was certainly not enough time in the one-hour meeting
\nfor the two leaders to resolve the \"dead knots\" between the two
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
However, while they did not get down to the details, there
\nwere encouraging signs that things could get better. If Goh had
\njust exchanged pleasantries with Abdullah for a few minutes and
\ngiven him a perfunctory handshake and a stiff smile before saying
\ngoodbye, he could not have been accused of breaching decorum.
\nInstead, Abdullah was given the pomp and ceremony of an official
\nvisit and a warm personal welcome from Goh. Singapore has
\nreciprocated the Prime Minister's overture by offering to broaden
\nofficial contacts between the two countries.<\/p>\n
More importantly, a sure sign of irreconciliable differences
\nis when both parties in a dispute refuse to talk to each other
\ndirectly and use a third party to mediate. Although Goh has said
\nthat \"you can't untie\" the \"dead knot\" issues which have
\nentangled bilateral relations, the fact that he agreed to
\nAbdullah's proposal to continue discussions when he preferred
\narbitration suggests that there is cause for optimisim about the
\nthawing in relations between the two countries.<\/p>\n
It is true that there has been precious little to show in the
\nmany years of talks except acrimony and the hardening of
\npositions. Which is why the way out of the cul-de-sac that both
\ncountries have found themselves stuck in is to think out of the
\nbox, as Abdullah has suggested.<\/p>\n
Time, of course, will tell what these fresh ideas and
\ndifferent approaches will be and whether they will finally undo
\nthe deadlock of the last few years. But Abdullah's visit will
\nhave begun the process of unloading the historical baggage that
\nhas burdened relations thus far.<\/p>\n
-- New Straits Times, Kuala Lumpur<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/setting-course-for-new-direction-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }