Powell to visit Indonesia during Asia tour this month
Powell to visit Indonesia during Asia tour this month
Agencies, Washington
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell will launch a grueling eight-nation tour of Asia this month, hoping to keep tensions between India and Pakistan under control and to bolster the Pacific front of the U.S.-led war on terrorism.
Powell will anchor the trip around his previously announced participation in the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum (ARF) in Brunei Darussalam, Agence France Presse reported on Friday.
He will also visit India, Pakistan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said. He is scheduled to fly into Jakarta on Aug. 2 and leave the next day.
Powell's stops on the Southeast Asian itinerary will mark his first visit to each of the countries as secretary of state. Each plays a key role in the Pacific front of the war on terrorism.
Powell is due to leave Washington on July 26 and start his swing across Asia in India and Pakistan on July 27 and 28.
He was then to travel on to Bangkok (July 28), Kuala Lumpur (July 29), Singapore (July 30). He will take part in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meetings in Bandar Sri Begawan (July 31-Aug. 1), and then visit Jakarta (Aug. 2) and Manila (Aug. 3).
"We have important relationships out here that are vital to our economic, political, diplomatic future, as well as our security interests," said Boucher.
"He has wanted to make this trip to Southeast Asia for a long time, but also there are immediate and pressing issues with regard to the fight against terrorism throughout this region."
The trip will be seen by Southeast Asian allies of the United States as a valuable exercise in showing the flag and consulting with top regional leaders.
Powell's itinerary in Southeast Asia includes states that are seen as close U.S. allies or long-term partners.
Conspicuously missing are Vietnam, communist Laos, military- ruled Myanmar, and Cambodia, which has a sometimes-testy relationship with Washington.
The Philippines faces frequent attacks and kidnappings from the Abu Sayyaf rebel group, believed to have links with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.
Malaysia has won praise from the United States on its fight against terrorism, worrying some human rights activist who fear the government may be exploiting the anti-terror campaign to repress domestic opponents.
Indonesia, while promising to support the U.S. campaign, has disappointed some U.S. officials with its anti-terror effort, and there have been frequent reports that the al-Qaeda network has considered the country, with its myriad islands and ethnic conflicts, an ideal staging ground.
As a group, Southeast Asian nations have pledged to work hard to fight against terrorism, and recommended a set of preventive actions.
But their effort has been hampered by the philosophical division in their grouping which includes democracies like Thailand and the Philippines, and military dictatorships like Myanmar.