ASEAN leaders decide to delay Cambodia's entry
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.