ARF talks viewed as 'open and candid'

ARF talks viewed as 'open and candid'

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali
Alatas described hailed yesterday's ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)
talks on security and political issues as "open and candid."

Alatas, who chaired the meeting, said the discussions
throughout the meeting remained positive, although there was some
divergence of views on the subjects discussed.

"The participants were open and candid in expressing their
views but this did not generate tension or dissension in the
room," he said.

ASEAN and its dialog partners agreed to restrict future
membership to sovereign states with a direct impact on peace and
security in the Asia-Pacific region.

The following is excerpts of the chairman's statement issued
at the end of the meeting of the group of 20 countries and the
European Union.

Guiding principles

"The ARF should only admit participants that can directly
affect the peace and security of the region on which the ARF
shall focus its peace-building and peace making efforts."

"It is clear that there is already an implicit consensus among
ARF participants that this 'geographical footprint' will cover
all of East Asia, both Northeast and Southeast Asia, as well as
Oceania. In the short term, it would not be wise to expand this
geographical scope for the key ARF activities."

"The ARF should expand carefully and cautiously."

"All questions regarding participation should be decided by
consultations among all ARF participants."

Criteria

"Commitment: All new participants, who will all be sovereign
states, must subscribe to and work cooperatively to help achieve
the ARF's key goals." Prior to their admission, all new
participants should agree to abide by and respect fully the
decisions and statements made by the ARF."

"Relevance: A new participant should be admitted only if it
can be demonstrated that it has an impact on the peace and
security of the 'geographical footprint' of key ARF activities,
i.e., Northeast and Southeast Asia as well as Oceania."

"Gradual expansion: Efforts must be made to control the number
of participants to a manageable level to ensure the effectiveness
of the ARF." Senior officials will be consulted to determine
whether a consensus exists for admission of new participants, but
actual decisions will be taken by the ministers.

New participants

"The ministers welcomed India and Myanmar joining the ARF as
new participants and took note of their express commitment to
help achieve the ARF's key goals and to abide by and respect
fully the decisions and statements already made by the ARF."

Issues

Nuclear tests: "Nuclear testing remains a concern in the
region. The Meeting welcomed the end of nuclear testing in the
South Pacific and confirmed their understanding that the Asia
Pacific region would shortly be free of nuclear testing."

CTBT: The meeting called for, "as a task of the highest
priority, a universal and multilaterally effectively verifiable
comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty."

Mines: The meeting "welcomed the decisions of several states
to impose moratoria and ban on the production, export and
operational use" of anti-personnel mines.

South China Sea: The meeting "welcomed the efforts by
countries concerned to seek solutions by peaceful means."

Korean peninsula: "The meeting stressed the need to establish
a peace mechanism and also emphasized that the 1953 Armistice
Agreement until then should remain valid. The meeting reiterated
the importance of the resumption of dialogue" between North and
South Korea and encouraged participants to "consider giving
further financial and political support to KEDO (Korean Peninsula
Energy Development Organization)."

Other matters

Participants called for further information-sharing "on the
basis of papers voluntarily submitted by participants. ... The
ARF participants are further encouraged to submit annually a
defense policy ... on a voluntary basis. Regular publication of
defense white papers or similar papers would also be welcomed."

Ministers welcomed offers by China and the Philippines to
cohost a meeting on confidence-building measures in Beijing in
early March 1997 and by Thailand and new Zealand to cohost a
meeting on disaster relief.

Ministers "noted with appreciation that a number of
participants had submitted defense policy statements or defense
policy papers."

General conclusions

"It was noted that the discussions throughout the Meeting
remained positive, although there was some divergence of views on
the subjects discussed. The participants were open and candid in
expressing their views but this did not generate tension or
dissension in the room."

"The participants also displayed a high degree of comfort in
their interactions with each other. ... Future meetings should
try to build upon this demonstrated base of friendly and frank
discussions among the participants as this will in turn pave the
way for agreements on substantive issues in the coming years."
(team)