Koizumi to raise Aceh and Myanmar issues

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.