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)