AIPO meeting close to adopting resolutions
AIPO meeting close to adopting resolutions
By Dwi Atmanta
NUSA DUA, Bali (JP): Southeast Asian parliamentarians
gathering here for the 18th congress of the ASEAN Inter-
Parliamentary Organization (AIPO) looked set yesterday to cut
short their assembly as deliberation on draft resolutions went
smoothly.
The closed sessions of three committees proceeded with the
majority of participants agreeing on most issues pushed forward
by Indonesia, according to the chairwoman of the commission on
political affairs, Tati Dharsoyo.
AIPO was opened on Monday and is due to conclude Friday.
The chairman of the commission on economy, Taheri Noor, said
there would only be a little change to Indonesia's draft of a
nine-point resolution on economic matters in order to accommodate
current developments. He was referring to the monetary upheavals
affecting some Southeast Asian countries.
The committee on social affairs approved yesterday eight
resolutions, including those on poverty alleviation, labor
problems, health care, prevention of the spread of HIV/AIDS and
promotion of women's roles.
The three commissions resume meetings today to polish their
respective drafts before they are endorsed in a plenary session
slated for tomorrow.
Assembly official Marsetio Donoseputro said the organization
was expected to announce its joint communique tomorrow, one day
earlier than originally scheduled.
Tati, a member of Indonesia's House of Representatives
commission for political affairs, said the Cambodian conflict and
the South China Sea dispute were the major focus of yesterday's
meeting.
"We agree that despite our deep concern over the rift, we will
consider it Cambodia's internal affair. But we expect the nation
to restore security and political stability prior to the general
election in May next year," Tati said.
Cambodian delegates, who are here as observers, were not
represented in the commission. AIPO is scheduled to meet with
Cambodian representatives today.
On the South China Sea issue, Tati reiterated ASEAN's call for
countries with overlapping claims to the region to reach a
peaceful solution.
Other resolutions will include those on Southeast Asia as a
nuclear-free zone, a nuclear test ban treaty, South Korean
tensions and Bosnia-Herzegovina ethnic conflicts.
Taheri said the commission on economic matters would discuss
more intensively today the Philippines' draft of a resolution on
collective measures to anticipate trade and industrial problems
following the current monetary crisis.
He said Indonesia included such a measure in its draft of a
resolution on ASEAN's vision for 2020, but it did not
specifically touch on the plunge of currency rates of some
Southeast Asian nations against the U.S. dollar.
"Laos is one of the most enthusiastic supporters of the
resolution, because sooner or later it will (be affected) if the
crisis remains unresolved," Taheri said.
The commission will also draw up a resolution on a so-called
economic integration proposed by Thailand, according to Taheri.
He said "a misunderstanding" marked the deliberation on
Thailand's proposal when Malaysia and Singapore questioned
whether the concept would lead to similar integration applied in
Europe.
The commission eventually agreed that the resolution would
instead recommend deeper cooperation between the countries,
Taheri said.
Host Indonesia also proposed a draft of resolutions on the
World Trade Organization, a legislative approach to ASEAN trade
law development, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the ASEAN
Free Trade Area, the ASEAN subregional growth area, tourism, the
Asia-Europe Meeting and ASEAN-European Union cooperation. (amd)