ASEAN leaders decide to delay Cambodia's entry

By Kornelius Purba & Medyatama Suryodiningrat

HANOI (JP): President B.J. Habibie and his 86-strong entourage arrived here on Monday afternoon to attend the sixth summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders, who decided during a presummit dinner to delay Cambodia's admission into the grouping at the two-day session.

The leaders, however, also decided to admit Cambodia within the next few weeks, and instructed their foreign ministers to prepare a special acceptance ceremony to be held also in Hanoi.

The crucial dinner meeting was hosted by Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai at the Horison Hotel.

Following the dinner, Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan revealed that Cambodia would not be admitted during this summit.

Habibie, however, was given the honor to meet Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen immediately afterward to deliver the news that though his country would not be admitted at this summit, it will join the grouping soon afterward.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai would not confirm the exact timing. "At the earliest possible time," Phan said.

Indonesia is among the strong advocates of immediate Cambodian entry into the nine-member grouping. However, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines maintain that ASEAN should wait for further political developments in Cambodia.

Relaxed

Despite the obvious tough issue facing them, the leaders came into the dinner in a relaxed mood.

"Your haircut is very nice, and you look much younger," Habibie told Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad as the nine ASEAN leaders chatted in the lobby, waiting for host Van Kiet to arrive.

"I may just look slimmer," Mahathir replied.

Turning to Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, Habibie recounted the severe turbulence that buffeted the Garuda 737-400 presidential flight during the 4.5-hour trip from Jakarta.

Accompanied by his wife Hasri Ainun, Habibie will stay here until Wednesday evening. His delegation includes Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas, Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung, and Minister of Defense and Security/ Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto. His eldest son Ilham Akbar Habibie is also on the official list.

His youngest brother, Suyatim "Timmy" Abdurrachman, and nephew Adrie Nurmianto Subono are also among the delegation.

Wiranto said that during his stay here he would meet with top Vietnamese military leaders, including Minister of Defense Pham Van Tra on Tuesday.

Wiranto also accompanied Habibie to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Kuala Lumpur last month.

Akbar said on Saturday that Habibie needed Wiranto's presence because he might need the latter's advice from time to time.

Habibie had previously insisted he could not spend one night outside of Jakarta, as the country did not have a vice president since he replaced Soeharto in May.

"Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security (Feisal Tanjung) will handle political and security matters during the President's absence," Akbar said.

The summit is to begin on Tuesday morning at the International Conference Center where Habibie is due to deliver a speech.

It will end on Wednesday morning when the leaders will issue the Hanoi Declaration. In the afternoon, they will hold meetings with other Asian leaders, including Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi and South Korea's President Kim Dae-jung.

Alatas

It emerged on Monday that Alatas was rushed to International Hospital here on Sunday evening. But he recovered by Monday and reported to Habibie.

"Are you okay now?" Habibie said, and hugged Alatas at the Horison Hotel lobby.

Both Alatas and Habibie have undergone heart operations.

Ginandjar denied reports that Alatas had a heart attack, saying he was just overly exhausted.

"He has suffered from bad flu and he didn't have enough sleep in the last few days," said Ginandjar, who took Alatas to the hospital.