ARF foreign ministers form a unique group

JAKARTA (JP): Just as every ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) member country has its own unique features, the 20 foreign ministers participating in today's parley also bring together a unique blend of personalities to the meeting.

As if proving the adage that "you don't have to be old to be wise" and "you're only as young as you feel", it is interesting to note that the eldest and youngest foreign minister here today were also the ones most recently inducted to their posts.

Born in 1919, Indian Foreign Minister I. Kumar Gujral is the eldest of those present, at 76. United States Secretary of State Warren Christopher is the second eldest, at 70. Meanwhile, China's Qian Qichen comes in a close third, at 68.

While Gujral is the eldest, Papua New Guinea's Kilroy Genia -- who will be 35 in October -- is the youngest. Both, however, were appointed to their posts just over a month ago, in June.

The two make up the group of seven "newcomers" attending the ARF, taking up their foreign ministerial seats at the beginning of the year.

Japan's Yukihiko Ikeda, Canada's Lloyd Axworthy and Russia's Yevgeni Primakov were all appointed as foreign ministers in January. Alexander Downer became Australian foreign minister in March, while Amnuay Viravan assumed his post in Thailand in May.

Age again proves that it is not a gauge to one's ability when we look at the second-youngest Foreign Minister, Prince Mohamad Bolkiah of Brunei, who at the age 48 is the longest-serving minister attending.

The graduate of the Royal Military College in Sandringham, England and father of 10 children now has 12 years of experience on the job behind him.

Despite his age, the youthful prince -- whose hobbies include Badminton and Polo -- can certainly lay claim to being the most senior foreign minister in the meetings after occupying his position since 1984.

The second-longest serving foreign minister is Indonesia's Ali Alatas, who has held his post for two five-year terms since 1988.

Looking at the stately manner in which the foreign ministers carry themselves today, it is sometimes hard to imagine them in anything but their current positions.

Nevertheless, a quick peek into their pasts show they come from a wide variety of backgrounds and career beginnings.

Many are career diplomats who have ascended the ladder of the diplomatic corps, while others have gained notoriety in other professions.

Singapore's S. Jayakumar, as a professor, is well-known for writing several books and was formerly dean of the law faculty at the National University of Singapore. Warren Christopher, meanwhile, still lists his occupation as an attorney.

Others have long pursued political careers and held several ministerial posts like Lloyd Axworthy, who has been in charge of such posts as minister responsible for women in the early 1980s.

Some even began their professional careers as humble journalists, like Ali Alatas and Yevgeni Primakov.

Alatas was economic news editor at the National News Agency P.I.A. before starting a glittering career in the Indonesian foreign service in the mid-1950s.

Primakov started out in broadcasting before holding down editorial positions at the Pravda newspaper between 1962 and 1970.

And if things do break down inside the meetings today, the ministers can always call on the talents of Philippine Foreign Minister Domingo L. Siazon, who boasts an impressive command of Filipino, Ilocano, English, Japanese, Spanish, French and German to resolve miscommunication. (mds)