'Shift in focus at APEC understandable'<\/p>\n
Dadan Wijaksana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Analysts cited as "understandable" the shift in focus at the
\nnewly concluded forum of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
\n(APEC) from economic issues to security and terrorism concerns.<\/p>\n
"It's been proven that terrorism can cripple the economy of
\nany country. It has become a global issue. What's important for
\nIndonesia is how to make the best out of the situation," Sri
\nAdiningsih told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
She was commenting on increasing criticism of the forum, which
\npaid more attention to security affairs than to the numerous
\neconomic issues needing to be addressed.<\/p>\n
The two-day event ended on Tuesday in Bangkok with only one
\nout of three major points stated on the joint declaration
\ncentered on economic issues and trade.<\/p>\n
Pacific Rim leaders, consisting of 21 heads of state and
\ngovernment, vowed to find a way to reenergize multilateral trade
\ntalks, following the collapse of the recent World Trade
\nOrganization (WTO) meeting in Cancun amid dispute over
\nagricultural issues between developed and developing nations.<\/p>\n
The other two points contain the leaders' pledges to dismantle
\nterrorist organizations and strive for peace on the Korean
\npeninsula.<\/p>\n
They "committed to take all essential actions to dismantle,
\nfully and without delay, translational terrorist groups that
\nthreaten the APEC economies", the joint statement said.<\/p>\n
When it was established in the early 1990s, the APEC leaders
\nset the promotion of stronger economic cooperation and free trade
\nbetween member countries as the organization's main goals. APEC
\naims to launch free trade by 2010 for its developed nations, and
\n2020 for its developing countries.<\/p>\n
The condition has prompted criticism from many over the
\nrelevance of the forum nowadays.<\/p>\n
Reuters quoted a number of participants voicing disappointment
\nover the little progress the forum had made.<\/p>\n
"Unless progress is made, people will go around thinking APEC
\nis just leaders going around in funny shirts once a year ...
\ntraveling in cavalcades in tight security and attending huge
\nbanquets," one businessman was quoted as saying.<\/p>\n
However, Sri was of the opinion that despite the lack of major
\ndecisions on economic issues and trade, Indonesia could still
\ntake advantage of the forum by engaging in talks on possible
\nbilateral commitments with other members.<\/p>\n
"This forum should be beneficial for a small and open economy
\nlike Indonesia, which is very dependent on the global economy --
\ndriven mostly by major economies in APEC," she said, adding that
\nIndonesia could boost exports and investment to and from those
\nnations only if it had good relations with them.<\/p>\n
Researcher Raden Pardede also said the results were not too
\nbad, as economic issues still managed to take center stage at the
\nforum, although to a lesser degree than at previous forums.<\/p>\n
He further said the decision to stress the importance of
\nreviving free trade negotiations as stated on the joint statement
\nwas fairly significant progress.<\/p>\n
Under the statement, leaders agreed that the Doha round of
\ntalks under the WTO was vital for member nations' prosperity.<\/p>\n
They "agreed to work towards the abolition of all forms of
\nagricultural export subsidies, unjustifiable export prohibitions
\nand restrictions."<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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