Asian, European ministers set modalities for dialog

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.