Cambodia welcome in ASEAN

Cambodia welcome in ASEAN

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia gave an approving nod here yesterday as visiting Cambodian Foreign Minister Ung Huot confirmed his country's intention to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"We give our full support to Cambodia's desire to become a member of ASEAN," said Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas outside his office after a two-hour meeting with Huot.

Alatas explained that Cambodia's membership would be precipitated by its acceptance of the Association's Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) during July's ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Brunei.

"They would first hold a position as a permanent observer," he said with respect to their ASEAN membership.

ASEAN was established in 1967 as a regional grouping which comprises Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Cambodia's neighbor, Vietnam, is expected to become the seventh member of the association later this year.

After meeting with President Soeharto early yesterday morning and with Alatas later in the day, Huot reiterated Indonesia's expressed support when he said "we very much like the kind words, assistance and action that Indonesia has provided for getting us into ASEAN."

Huot, who arrived here from Brunei on Wednesday, said that his country was ready to enter in the TAC and had formally applied as a signatory during his visit to Brunei.

To further facilitate Cambodia's admission, Huot also met with ASEAN Secretary General Ajit Singh to discuss the technical and administrative aspects needed for membership.

Apart from discussing membership in ASEAN, Huot said that he also updated Soeharto and Alatas on the latest developments occurring in Cambodia.

"We got some good advice, which I cannot tell you, from the president and the foreign minister," he said of yesterday's meetings.

Alatas added that President Soeharto was also glad when told that Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk was almost fully recovered from his recent cancer treatment in Beijing.

Indonesia has played a prominent role in Cambodia's reconciliation process by paving the way for a peaceful settlement through two Jakarta Informal Meetings (JIM) in August 1988 and February 1989.

The Indonesian armed forces has also contributed through the Garuda XII peacekeeping contingent under the aegis of the United Nations Transition Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC).

Huot yesterday took time to thank the role of the Indonesian government and people in bringing peace to his nation.

He especially praised Alatas for his hard work and skillful diplomacy. "I'd like to come and thank personally his excellency Ali Alatas for his valuable contribution to the peace in Cambodia."

The Cambodian prime minister further described his visit as "an opportunity as the new foreign minister (of Cambodia) to pay respect to the older foreign minister (of Indonesia) so that we can work together and learn from his vast experience."

When Alatas was asked by journalists about his meeting with Huot, the Indonesian foreign minister replied that the talks also included ways to deepen and widen economic ties between the two countries.

"We also discussed issues related to bilateral relations, especially in the economic field," Alatas said adding that Indonesia is interested in increasing investments there.

He explained that there are already a number of Indonesian firms operating in Cambodia including the state-owned telecommunications company PT. Indosat.

NPT

Later, when asked by The Jakarta Post on Indonesia's position regarding the just-ended prepatory meeting of the nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Alatas said that Indonesia still opposes the adoption of an indefinite extension of the treaty.

"We find it difficult to accept an indefinite extension...because we feel that the NPT is not being implemented as properly as we'd like."

Led by the United States, a number of countries are proposing an indefinite extension as opposed to the 25-year term, which is up for review in April.

"The nuclear countries have to show a more honest implementation of the NPT," Alatas said, while lamenting Israel's refusal to join the NPT.(mds)