World powers hail RI's peace drive<\/p>\n
By Pandaya<\/p>\n
BANGKOK (JP): Reaffirming their commitment to security in
\nAsia-Pacific, the world's major powers yesterday pledged their
\nsupport for Indonesia's peace initiative on the South China Sea.<\/p>\n
Security in the Asia-Pacific region was discussed by the
\nforeign ministers from the six ASEAN member countries and their
\n\"dialog partners\": the U.S., Canada, European Union, Japan, South
\nKorea, Australia and New Zealand.<\/p>\n
Yesterday's ASEAN post-ministerial conference (PMC) was
\ndominated by discussions on the security situation in the Korean
\npeninsula, human rights conditions in Myanmar and the dragging
\ncivil strife in Cambodia.<\/p>\n
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott, who represented
\nState Secretary Warren Christopher, said a \"looming security
\nchallenge\" in the region lies in the South China Sea.<\/p>\n
\"We support the efforts, led by Indonesia, for peaceful
\nsettlement and the development of resources,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has, since 1990, been sponsoring academic seminars
\non the solution to the conflict over the oil-rich Spratly
\nislands. The workshop series aim at building mutual trust among
\nthe conflicting countries to pave the way for a peaceful
\nsolution.<\/p>\n
China has said its sovereignty over the Spratlys is non-
\nnegotiable and prefers bilateral discussions on the islands with
\nthe other claimants -- Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei
\nand Taiwan.<\/p>\n
China and Vietnam were engaged in brief skirmishes near the
\ndisputed territory in late 1980s. The Philippines and Vietnam
\nrecently locked horns over Hanoi's building a lighthouse on one
\nof the tiny islands.<\/p>\n
Concern over the smoldering conflict over Spratlys was also
\nvoiced by Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans, who called
\nfor more efforts to lower tensions in the South China Sea.<\/p>\n
ASEAN groups Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia,
\nSingapore and Brunei. For this year's ministerial meeting
\nstarting on July 22, it also invited Papua New Guinea, Myanmar,
\nLaos and Vietnam, which do not take part in the PMC.<\/p>\n
Nuclear<\/p>\n
The U.S. reiterated its commitment to security in the Asia-
\nPacific region in peacetime. \"Our forward-deployed military
\npresence provides a strong framework for addressing the region's
\nmost pressing security concern,\" Talbott said.<\/p>\n
He said North Korea's refusal to accept constraints on its
\nnuclear program endangers South Korea, Japan and the American
\nallies in Northeast Asia.<\/p>\n
\"We will continue this patient diplomatic effort. But if
\nNorth Korea seeks to use dialog as a diversion, we are prepared
\nto move the issue back to the Security Council to pursue
\nsanctions and to take whatever steps appropriate to resolve the
\nissue,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Japan, which supported the presence of the U.S. in Asia-
\nPacific after the Cold War to help maintain peace and stability
\nin the region, said North Korea's nuclear program threatened
\nNortheast Asia.<\/p>\n
\"The presence and involvement of the United States is an
\nindispensable factor for peace and stability in the region,\"
\nJapanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono said.<\/p>\n
The seven world major powers called for more international
\nactions to make Myanmar restore democracy and release opposition
\nleader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has spent five years under house
\narrest.<\/p>\n
Klaus Kinkel, president of the European Union Council of
\nMinisters, said the EU was prepared to talk with the Myanmar
\njunta, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC).<\/p>\n
\"It is, however, up to the leadership in Yangon to assure, by
\nmaking real progress toward democracy and respect for human
\nrights, that this does not remain a one-off meeting,\" Kinkel
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Tragedies<\/p>\n
The EU's readiness to open talks with SLORC was welcomed by
\nASEAN ministers, who in the past refused Western countries' call
\nto isolate Myanmar. Instead, they seek \"positive engagement\" of
\nMyanmar in world forums.<\/p>\n
\"I'm relieved they (Western countries) begin to understand
\nour positive engagement concept,\" Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali
\nAlatas told journalists.<\/p>\n
The ASEAN dialog partners also expressed their concern over
\nthe escalation of the Cambodian civil war, which threatens
\nefforts to achieve social and economic reconstruction in that
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
The U.S. urged continued engagement in Cambodia through the
\ninternational Conference on the Reconstruction of Cambodia by
\nsupporting the democratically elected government and cutting off
\nall ties with the Khmer Rouge.<\/p>\n
\"All of us here should be considering what action is
\nnecessary, jointly or individually, to ensure that the past
\ntragedies in Cambodia are not repeated Evans said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/world-powers-hail-ris-peace-drive-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}