Bad weather delays ASEAN-U.S. dialog

Bad weather delays ASEAN-U.S. dialog

NUSA DUA, Bali (JP): The ASEAN-U.S. dialog scheduled to begin today has been postponed due to blizzards in the United States that grounded the American delegation in Washington.

Izhar Ibrahim, Director General for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told journalists here yesterday that officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have decided to postpone the dialog to a more convenient date, possibly in April.

The 13th ASEAN-U.S. dialog was slated to be held in the posh resort of Nusa Dua.

The two-day meeting would have covered both economic and security issues such as the U.S. defense posture in the Asia Pacific, United Nations reform and the nuclear weapons free zone.

The U.S. delegation was to be led by Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Winston Lord, accompanied by senior coordinator for APEC Affairs Sandra Kristoff.

Had the delegation taken off, their late arrival would only have left one day to exchange views.

"We feel it wouldn't have been enough because we consider this to be an important forum for ASEAN and the U.S. We need time to discuss everything seriously," Izhar explained.

He added that Washington agreed with the postponement and the need for enough time to discuss the mutually important matters.

Formed in 1967 ASEAN is comprised of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Izhar revealed that ASEAN proposed the dialog be rescheduled to shortly before the special Senior Officials Meeting in Indonesia on April 8-10, which precedes the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting to be held in Jakarta in July. (mds)