Asian, European ministers set modalities for dialog

By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat

SINGAPORE (JP): Asian and European foreign ministers hammered out the modalities for political dialog between the two regions here yesterday, agreeing to avoid bilateral issues and "finger pointing" during debates.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas argued the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) process should eschew irrelevant issues or debates being tackled in other forums.

"We don't oppose political dialog but the issues raised must be appropriate ones," he said.

Alatas was speaking after the one-day ASEM foreign ministers meeting.

ASEM groups 15 European and 10 Asian countries.

After the inaugural ASEM summit in Bangkok last year, leaders directed their foreign ministers to meet and review the implementation of goals set. The meeting was also to define further modalities for cooperation agreed upon.

One area of cooperation was the establishment of a political and security dialog.

The chair of yesterday's meeting, Singapore's S. Jayakumar, said ministers agreed on several guidelines for the dialog.

They agreed discussions should be held in a spirit of mutual respect and learning, devoid of finger pointing, not cater to domestic lobbies or the international media's agenda.

Other foreign ministers attending yesterday's meeting were Austria's Wolfgang Schussel, Belgium's Erik Derycke, Brunei's Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, China's Qian Qichen, Denmark's Niels Helveg Petersen, Finland's Mrs Tarja Halonen, France's Herve de Charette, Germany's Klaus Kinkel, Greece's Theodoros Pangalos, Ireland's Richard Spring, Italy's Lamberto Dini, Japan's Yukihiko Ikeda, South Korea's Yoo Chong-ha, Luxembourg's Jacques Poos, Malaysia's Abdullah Badawi, the Netherlands' Hans van Mierlo, the Philippines' Domingo L. Siazon, Portugal's Jaime Gama, Spain's Abel Matutes Juan, Sweden's Mrs Lena Hjelm-Wallen, Thai Prachuab Chaiyasarn, Britain's Malcolm Rifkind and Vietnam's Nguyen Manh Cam and European Commission Vice President Manuel Marin.

Jayakumar said ASEM should not exclude any issue but take into account considerations highlighted by the leaders like focussing on common ground, enhancing mutual understanding and promoting cooperation.

In a 10-point chairman's statement ministers agreed the dialog should begin by discussing issues of common interest. Discussion topics could then be broadened gradually.

"We should proceed at a measured pace, raising issues which are comfortable to everyone and which will pull us together instead of pulling us apart. As we become more comfortable with one another, we may raise more sensitive issues," Jayakumar said

ASEM members have often been at odds over human rights issues.

The chairman's statement noted that substantial process had been made in many areas in a relatively short time and that economic cooperation had advanced rapidly.

Among the projects which will come to fruition soon are the Asia-Europe Environmental Technology Center in Thailand, the convening of an Asia-Europe Business Conference in Jakarta in July, and the start of a 10-month feasibility study for a Trans- Asia railway network.

Jayakumar said "our 11-month old ASEM baby is no longer a toddler and is instead now walking steadily and even, all set to run."

Dutch Foreign Minister Hans van Mierlo, who is the European coordinator of the meeting, was also satisfied. "It has been very impressive," he said.

Ministers also attended the launching of another ASEM flagship project; the Asia-Europe Foundation which was set up to promote people-to-people contact through exchange programs for students, journalists and other professionals.

The ministers issued a separate declaration condemning Peruvian guerrillas for taking hostages at the Japanese ambassador's residence in Peru. Japan proposed the declaration.

The declaration demanded the immediate release of all hostages and reaffirmed a determination not to give in to terrorism.

Ali Alatas said South Korea had urged ministers to issue a declaration of concern over Taiwan's plans to ship nuclear waste to North Korea but the proposal did not reach consensus.

On the issue membership, Alatas said that while ministers were not opposed to expanding ASEM, the criteria and mechanism for nomination and admission had to be worked out.

Alatas said that based on ASEM's composition it was clear Asian membership had to be increased but said leaders had the final decision.

ASEM leaders will meet again in London in April 1998.

India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and Russia are countries which have expressed interest in joining ASEM.