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)