AA leaders to renew commitment

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Amid all the changes that have taken place over the past half century, the spirit to build a better world shared among Asian and African nations has remained alive, as witnessed by the gathering of the leaders of the two continents in a two-day summit that began on Friday.

Over 100 countries will participate in the historic summit, 42 of which will be represented by heads of state or government. Earlier co-host Indonesia had claimed over 50 heads of state or government would attend the event.

Unlike their founding fathers who initiated the conference in Bandung 50 years ago to take a stand against colonialism, the current leaders will be trading ideas and initiatives to address myriad problems facing two-thirds of the world's population living in the two continents, ranging from poverty to poor medical care.

To seal their renewed commitment, the Asian and African leaders will sign the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) and issue a joint statement on tsunamis, earthquakes and other natural disasters during the summit. The launch of the new partnership will cap the commemoration of the golden jubilee of Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung on Sunday.

The declaration of a new strategic partnership, scheduled to be signed on Friday, will mark the nations' recognition of the everlasting relevance of solidarity, friendship and cooperation initiated by their founding fathers back in 1955.

Through the declaration, the nations envision an affluent Asian-African region characterized by equitable growth, sustainable development, a common determination to enhance the quality of life of their people, and a region free from fear of violence, oppression and injustice.

The Asian and African leaders will also express their "abhorrence" that there is still no independent Palestinian state.

Ironically, the Middle Eastern and Arab countries, the neighbors of Palestine, are underrepresented in the summit. No heads of state or government from the region turned up for the event.

Also missing the meeting is Libyan leader Moammar Qaddafi, who canceled his participation at the last minute.

Spokesman for an Indonesian group preparing for the visit of Qaddafi, Muhyiddin Junaidi, told Antara the Libya president called off his trip to Jakarta after his request to lead Friday prayers and deliver a sermon at Istiqlal Mosque was turned down. The group had conveyed Qaddafi's wish to the Minister of Religious Affairs Maftuh Basyuni, who said he could not accept the request.

Maftuh defended his decision, saying it would be unwise to let a guest lead the prayer which will also be attended by leaders of other Asian and African nations. "It's better if the prayer is led by the host nation," Maftuh said.

The rest of the heads of state and government touched down in Jakarta on Thursday for the summit; some holding bilateral talks with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono shortly after their arrival.

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe said he expected to see greater solidarity between Asian and African countries to counter acts of aggression by powerful "Western forces of imperialism."

"I expect a solidarity that enables us to defend ourselves politically, and to have a world body, the United Nations, that can withstand these acts of aggression."

"If we have come here saying nothing about these things, then what are we doing?" he told The Jakarta Post.

Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, also expressed his wish that the summit would set up a level playing ground for cooperation, particularly in trade and commerce, between countries in the South and North.

"Pakistan believes in enhancement of South-South cooperation. Pakistan believes that South-South cooperation ought to be honest, to deal with South-North issues," he said in an interview on Thursday.

Gen. Musharraf was also optimistic that Pakistan would benefit greatly from the summit in enhanced relations with other participating countries.

"Specifically, the greatest benefit will be in trade and commerce, in equal relationship... Other than that, there are other areas -- social-cultural areas, political issues and political relationships which could be enhanced between the countries. These are areas which we need to look into, which are beneficial to all countries who participate."