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)