RI pushes ahead with WPF

CANBERRA (JP): Indonesia is pushing ahead with its idea of establishing a West Pacific Forum and on Tuesday received a nod of support from Australia to convene an inaugural ministerial meeting next year.

The idea was briefly touched upon during a meeting here on Tuesday between Indonesia's President Abdurrahman Wahid and Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

The forum would comprise Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, New Zealand and perhaps Brunei.

Howard told journalists, after the meeting, that he fully backed the idea.

"May I say on behalf of Australia that we welcome the President putting forward this proposal", Howard said.

"We believe that it can make a positive contribution to a better understanding between countries in this part of the world."

The idea of such a forum caught many by surprise when it was first sounded out by Abdurrahman after attending a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Singapore last year.

Many, however, believe that the idea was pressed forward by the President after some degree of disappointment by Abdurrahman of events that transpired in the summit.

Some analysts also question why Indonesia, which is a founder and long regarded as a pillar of ASEAN, would suddenly take interest in the establishment of such a new forum.

Separately, Indonesian Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab also discussed the forum during a meeting with his Australian counterpart Alexander Downer.

Recognizing the sensitivities involved with regard to fellow ASEAN members, Alwi said he and Downer had agreed that the ministerial meeting, which could be held sometime next year, should take the form of a dialog forum.

He also stressed that the first meeting should not be held in Indonesia or Australia and suggested Port Moresby as a possible location.

"Indonesia should not give the impression that it is too enthusiastic, as if we were going to leave ASEAN," he remarked.

Formed in 1967, ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

It is still unclear what exact benefits Indonesia aims to achieve by establishing the forum which may eventually include the former Indonesian province of East Timor.

Abdurrahman himself did not comment on the latest developments of his proposal. (mds)