FM denies France, RI asked to help Cambodia

FM denies France, RI asked to help Cambodia

JAKARTA (JP): The minister of foreign affairs, Ali Alatas,
denied yesterday a report that ASEAN had asked Indonesia and
France to help defuse Cambodia's political crisis.

"The truth is that if Cambodia requests such help ASEAN will
be ready to give technical assistance to the Cambodian
government, which will soon be organizing its general elections,"
he was quoted by Antara as saying.

A foreign news agency earlier quoted a Thai foreign ministry
official as saying ASEAN would ask Indonesia and France to help
solve Cambodia's political crisis.

The report said the decision was made in an informal meeting
of ASEAN foreign ministers in Hong Kong earlier this week.

France and Indonesia both played major roles in pushing
Cambodia's warring factions toward the 1991 Paris peace accord
that officially ended the Cambodian civil war.

But Alatas denied the report and said it was difficult for
Indonesia and France to meddle in Cambodia's internal affairs
because Cambodia was a sovereign state.

"It is impossible for Indonesia and France to step in as
Cambodia is a sovereign country. We must respect its
sovereignty," he said.

ASEAN foreign ministers held an informal meeting on regional
issues while in Hong Kong for the handover of the former British
colony to China.

"During the meeting, we did touch on developments in Cambodia
and we decided to offer technical assistance on preparations for
Cambodia's first general election," Alatas said.

This technical assistance included registering voters, he
said.

"If Cambodia asks for assistance, we will discuss its
implementation with them," he said.

ASEAN groups Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the
Philippines, Brunei and Vietnam. It is expected to admit
Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar this month.

Political tension has been high in Cambodia over a long-
running struggle between the country's two prime ministers who
head a deadlocked coalition government. (swe)