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)