President of Taiwan not to attend APEC
President of Taiwan not to attend APEC
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas on Friday
dashed all speculation concerning Taiwanese President Lee Teng-
hui's participation at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) leaders meeting, by asserting that Taiwan will be
represented only by a senior official.
"For the APEC leaders meeting, we will follow the exact format
as the Blake Island meeting...this means Taiwan and Hong Kong
will only be represented by their minister of economy," Alatas
remarked.
Speaking to reporters after meeting with Kazakhstan's foreign
minister, Alatas stressed that the Nov. 15 meeting in Bogor, West
Java, would also remain informal.
APEC consists of the United States, Mexico, Japan, Hong Kong,
South Korea, Taiwan, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore,
Brunei, the Philippines, Canada, Australia, Papua New Guinea, New
Zealand and Indonesia, which currently presides over the forum.
Succumbing to Chinese pressure, Lee Teng-hui absented himself
from last year's inaugural APEC leaders meeting on Blake Island.
However, as the Bogor meeting approaches, Taiwan has shown
strong interest in attending. Rumors heightened last week when
presidential spokesperson, Raymond Tai, in Taipei claimed that
Indonesia had extended an invitation to Lee.
The claim was quickly refuted by the Indonesian foreign
ministry.
Though Jakarta officially maintains a one China policy and has
no diplomatic ties with Taiwan, relations have blossomed.
China, which claims sovereignty over the island of Taiwan, has
reportedly strongly warned against Lee's possible attendance.
When queried if Taipei could pressure Jakarta into extending
an invitation in light of Taiwan's US$8.5 billion in investment
here, Alatas flatly rebutted the suggestion.
"Its not a question of being able to force us or not, its
about us trying to host an APEC leaders meeting where all can
attend or not," he replied diplomatically.
Kazakhstan
Earlier in the morning, Alatas met his counterpart from
Kazakhstan, Kanat Saudabayev, who arrived here on Thursday.
"There are big opportunities for cooperation between our two
countries, not only in the trade and economic field but also in
the political one," Saudabayev said in his native Kazakh
language.
Elaborating further on the political aspects of bilateral
cooperation the visiting foreign minister said that both
countries would benefit from the enhancement of stability in
their respective regions.
Alatas concurred about the potential for bilateral political
cooperation between the countries.
"Especially in the various regional and international forums
such as the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic
Conference of which they will soon become a member," he said.
The Republic of Kazakhstan broke away from the former Soviet
Union and declared itself an independent state on Dec. 16, 1991.
With a population of about 17 million, this small state in
central Asia is a major producer of metals and raw materials.
Alatas also revealed that President Nazarbayev had originally
been slated to embark on a trip to Indonesia, but the trip had
to be postponed due to a schedule conflict.
"A new time convenient to both sides is currently being
discussed. I hope the visit can still take place this year," he
said.
Before leaving Jakarta on Saturday, Saudabayev also met with
Minister of Trade Satrio Budiardjo Joedono, members of the
Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (Kadin) and businessman Hasyim
Djojohadikusumo. (mds)