RI pushes ahead with WPF

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)