Singaporean minister: ASEAN solidarity remains solid<\/p>\n
By Kornelius Purba<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (JP): Singaporean Minister of Foreign Affairs S.
\nJayakumar said on Wednesday the spirit of solidarity and
\ncooperation prevailed in the Association of Southeast Asian
\nNations (ASEAN) despite temporary weakening caused by the
\neconomic crisis and political transition faced by some members.<\/p>\n
The minister, also chairman of the ASEAN Standing Committee,
\ndismissed fears the grouping would be diminished by bilateral
\ndisputes among its members, saying they were nothing new.<\/p>\n
\"In the past 30 years, if you look at history there are also
\nups and downs (in relations) and there have also always been
\nbilateral problems,\" Jayakumar told a group of visiting
\nIndonesian journalists at his ministry.<\/p>\n
He said ASEAN was once hailed as one of the world's finest
\nregional groupings because its members enjoyed robust economic
\ngrowth and strong political stability.<\/p>\n
A strong commitment to put the grouping's interest above
\nbilateral disputes affecting some members had played a pivotal
\nrole in maintaining its strength, he added.<\/p>\n
Jayakumar believed recent meetings of foreign and economic
\nministers in Manila and New York respectively attested to the
\nsurvival of the cohesive spirit.<\/p>\n
The economic ministers agreed to accelerate the realization of
\nthe ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) -- from 2003 to 2001 -- despite
\nthe current economic turmoil.<\/p>\n
\"What is important is to keep the group on course and that was
\nthe decision that was agreed,\" Jayakumar remarked.<\/p>\n
ASEAN comprises Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,
\nthe Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its leaders
\nare scheduled to hold an official summit in Hanoi in December.<\/p>\n
Indonesian President B.J. Habibie and Philippine President
\nJoseph Estrada irked Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad
\nearly this month when they expressed concern over the arrest and
\nbeating of fired deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.<\/p>\n
Jayakumar, concurrently Singapore's minister of law,
\nacknowledged his country had its own bilateral problem with
\nMalaysia, but added that the overall relationship remained firm.<\/p>\n
Habibie has complained that Singapore conveyed belated
\ncongratulations after he replaced Soeharto in May.<\/p>\n
He also expressed unhappiness with Singapore's slow action in
\ndisbursing a US$5 billion loan to Indonesia in the form of a
\ntrade finance guarantee scheme.<\/p>\n
\"We have never had any experience in trade financing before,\"
\nJayakumar explained.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/singaporean-minister-asean-solidarity-remains-solid-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}