ASEM needs to take on political security issues

JAKARTA (JP): International academics yesterday agreed that the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), whose primary focus is economic cooperation, must not neglect the dimension of political security.

Speakers at a seminar to asses the first ASEM, at the Center for Strategic and International Studies yesterday, pointed out that the forged partnership would not be as strong if it neglected political security.

"The relations would not develop their true potential," explained Hans W. Maull who holds the chair for foreign policy and international relations at the University of Tier in Germany.

The speakers were in accord that there was very little in the political-security realm discussed during the first ASEM.

Indonesian political observer Hasnan Habib said: "The political-security dimension was almost totally absent."

The first ASEM in Bangkok in March brought together heads of government from 15 states of the European Union and 10 Asian nations.

The idea originated from the fact that, unlike relations with countries in the Pacific rim countries, Asia and Europe were bereft of a forum for cooperation. ASEM was established to remedy this situation.

Another noted academic, Gerald Segal, also addressed the lack of a political dimension within ASEM.

"Europeans should not be taken as occasional traders," the Senior Fellow at the London based International Institute for Strategic and Studies said.

The speakers acknowledged that, compared to the United States' presence in the region, Europe's is bound to appear limited. Nevertheless, it could still make an important contribution, they agreed.

Two European countries which were pointed out as possible contributors were Britain, with its long seafaring tradition, and France which still maintains a small fleet in the South Pacific.

Areas of the political security partnership could include such projects as maritime cooperation.

The academics also said they believed that it is inevitable that such social-political issues have to be dealt with.

French academic Francois Godement said that controversy over state models, political systems and values "will never completely go away". However, he said he did not believe that they were issues over which "battle lines" would be drawn.

Similarly, Segal said that human rights would not be an issue that would destroy the process of forging cooperation between Asia and Europe.

"Human rights is not necessarily a divisive issue," he remarked.

Speaking of the second ASEM due to be held in London in 1998, Maull said it would be a good idea for the leaders to have a fixed agenda during their meeting.

In Bangkok, the leaders did not define the issues which would be agreed upon but merely had a general running guideline.

"If you don't have such an agenda, interest would fade very quickly," he said. He maintained, however, that as long as a common rationale had been established, discussions could still progress positively. (mds)