Perth to host Indian Ocean meeting

Perth to host Indian Ocean meeting

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Australia said yesterday it has drawn up a list of 37 nations to be invited to a meeting it was hosting in June to discuss South Africa's plan for an Indian Ocean trade and security grouping.

"We have identified 37 countries. It depends ... if all will turn up," Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans told reporters here.

Evans, concluding a four-day visit to Malaysia, said the meeting in Perth in the middle of June would not have a specific agenda.

"At this stage we want to let ideas bloom," Evans said.

"We don't want to be prescriptive or impose or suggest any model. That's at a later stage," he added.

Evans did not list the potential participants for the meeting but Australian officials said Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Gulf states were among those most likely to attend.

The officials said invitations will be out in March for the conference, which was expected to feature prominent government and business representatives.

Malaysia said last week it was agreeable to the Indian Ocean grouping provided it did not evolve into a trade bloc.

"We are supportive of the plan as long as it does not lead to protectionist measures," Abdul Halim Ali, deputy secretary- general of the foreign ministry, said after South African Deputy President F.W. de Klerk held talks with Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on the plan.

Evans did not comment on Malaysia's concerns but said Australia was confident it would not inhibit the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, which he considered the ultimate grouping for the region.

"APEC is the main game for the region and it should be maintained," Evans said.

APEC groups Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the United States.

Evans said Australia was keen to explore the level of cooperation possible in the Indian Ocean plan.

"We see it as a triangle ranging from South Africa to India and Australia and we can discuss things like trade and economy, security and issues like environment, health and refugees," he said.