ASEAN members 'alive again', Indonesia says

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

ASEAN, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is active again, and the launching of a free trade area at the start of the year is going to help catapult the group back into international diplomacy, Indonesia proclaimed on Monday.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirajuda, outlining the challenges facing Indonesia in 2002, said he detected "a new sense of activism" within ASEAN.

"This is an ASEAN that has come back from a crisis situation," he told journalists in a meeting to reflect on the achievements of 2001 and the challenges his office faces in 2002.

As the largest member, Indonesia has been regarded as the natural leader of the regional grouping, now in its 34th year.

The group's international prominence ebbed after the financial crisis that struck Asia in 1997, with Indonesia the worst affected as political turmoil descended.

Hassan, a career diplomat appointed by President Megawati Soekarnoputri when she formed her Cabinet in August, reiterated Jakarta's long standing policy of making ASEAN the cornerstone of its diplomacy.

But while focusing on the region, this in no way would dampen ASEAN's outward-looking spirit, and Indonesia would continue to forge close relationships with countries outside the region, particularly its major trading partners, he said.

He said a series of activities held by ASEAN in 2001, including the regional summit in Bandar Sri Begawan in November and the launching of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) on Jan. 1, came just as certain parties cast doubts about ASEAN's relevance.

In spite of the low-key launch of AFTA, major economies in Asia, including Japan, South Korea and China have all expressed interest in joining this process of closer economic integration between countries in the region, he said.

Several concepts had been bandied about, from an "ASEAN-China Free Trade", "East Asia Free Trade" to talks of forming an "East Asian Community", he noted.

AFTA involves six of ASEAN's 10 member countries, with the remaining four joining in by 2008. Under the free trade agreement, the six participants -- Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand -- will cut import tariffs for most goods to between zero and 5 percent.

"Contrary to what skeptics have said about our readiness to face AFTA, data shows Indonesia is well prepared, in terms of its competitive edge and trade," Hassan said.

He pointed out that Indonesia's trade with the rest of ASEAN has been growing at a steady rate of 12.35 percent a year, with Indonesia running an overall surplus.

There were at least 28 types of products with which Indonesia has a comparative advantage over other ASEAN countries, he said, citing plywood, yarn, steel sheet, aluminum products, shoes and glass products as examples.

After ASEAN, Indonesia's next foreign policy priority would be with its Pacific neighbors, including East Timor, Hassan said.

A new forum, called the South West Pacific Dialog, a concept first broached by Megawati's predecessor Abdurrahman Wahid, would be launched in the middle of the year.

Indonesia would host a series of important meetings in February, including a ministerial-level meeting with East Timor and a consultative meeting involving Indonesia, Australia and East Timor.

A regional conference, jointly sponsored with Australia, would be held in Bali in February to discuss the problem of people smuggling and trading, and other international crimes.

Hassan said he had sent out invitations to his counterparts in 35 countries, including Central Asian countries where the problems emerged.

The new Afghanistan government had also been invited.

Indonesia has been used as a transit point for Central Asian people seeking asylum in Australia.

Busy schedule in RI's diplomacy

* Consultation meeting in Bali in February involving Indonesia, East Timor and Australia.

* Ministerial level meeting with East Timor in Bali in February.

* Regional conference on people smuggling and trade in Bali in February.

* Launching of the South West Pacific Dialog forum (comprising Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines) in mid- year.

State guests: Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (Jan. 12), Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra (Jan. 17), Australian Prime Minister John Howard (February).

President Megawati's foreign trips: China, South Korea and North Korea, and India in March/April.

Hassan's foreign trip: Papua New Guinea (January).