Koizumi to raise Aceh and Myanmar issues
The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali
In a surprising diplomatic move, a delegation of senior Japanese officials told their counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Saturday that Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will raise the Aceh problem, along with other issues such as the nuclear crisis in the Korean peninsula, and Myanmar, when the prime minister meets with ASEAN heads of government along with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun on Wednesday.
The plan was later confirmed by the Japanese government.
Meanwhile, Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Marty Natalegawa said Indonesia was ready to brief other leaders about the latest situation in war-torn Aceh during the summit.
"We have never shown any resistance to share the issue of Aceh with our ASEAN neighbors and other countries, to promote greater understanding among our friends," Marty told The Jakarta Post.
He added that even if the issue were not raised by any of the participating countries during the leaders' summit, Indonesia would take the initiative to explain developments in Aceh.
Indonesia cohosted the Tokyo conference on Aceh earlier this year along with the U.S., the European Union and the World Bank, shortly before the government declared martial law in the province. Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Yutaka Iimura said his government was ready to assist Indonesia in resolving the Aceh problem and offered its assistance in rebuilding and reconstruction there.
Senior ASEAN officials met with their counterparts from ASEAN+3 dialog partners China, Japan and South Korea on Saturday, where they ironed out draft agreements with China and Japan that will be issued on Wednesday when the 10 ASEAN leaders receive their guests on Wednesday. They will also hold a separate meeting with the Indian delegation.
With the Chinese delegation they discussed the joint declaration from the meeting of the heads of state/government of the members states of ASEAN and the People's Republic of China on a strategic partnership for peace and prosperity.
Cooperation between China and ASEAN countries focuses on five priority areas, including agriculture, information and telecommunications and human resources development.
With India they negotiated a framework agreement on comprehensive economic cooperation between ASEAN and the Republic of India. The topic of discussion with Japan was a framework for comprehensive economic partnership between ASEAN and Japan. With South Korea they exchanged views about latest developments in the north and south, including the nuclear crisis in the Korean peninsula.
ASEAN Secretary-General Ong Keng Yeong said the negotiations were proceeding smoothly. The 10 ASEAN foreign ministers will meet on Sunday for final discussions on draft agreements. Indonesia's foreign ministry Director General for Asia, Pacific and Africa Makarim Wibisono also noted that there were in practice no more problems outstanding at the senior officials meeting.