RI to host fifth ASEM meeting

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia is to host the fifth Asia Europe Ministerial Meeting (ASEM) in Denpasar, Bali, on July 24 and 25 to address a series of international security issues including the postwar situation in Iraq and the North Korea nuclear crisis.

Attended by seven ministers from European countries and 10 ministers from Asia, the two-day meeting is slated to develop wider security cooperation among member countries.

"We shall discuss issues of common concern," Ministry of Foreign Affairs director general for America and Europe Arrizal Effendy said on Monday.

These include the antiterror drive, the North Korea nuclear crisis, nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the Middle East crisis and the postwar situation in Iraq.

Ministry director for intraregional cooperation for America and Europe Retno L.P. Marsudi said Indonesia would maintain its stance regarding these issues.

"Of course we'll stick to our agenda in the discussion, such as the UN's role in Iraq, but the chairman's statement will depend on discussion during the meeting," she said.

The ASEM meeting will be proceeded by a three-day senior officials' meeting from Jan. 21 through Jan. 23.

Arrizal said President Megawati Soekarnoputri was expected to formally open the meeting.

Foreign affairs ministers from Italy, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands and the European Union commission have confirmed their intention to attend, while deputy ministers from France, Germany, Spain, the UK and Sweden will also participate.

Three Asian countries -- Japan, China and South Korea -- have confirmed their participation at the meeting.

Arrizal also said although the Aceh issue was not on the agenda, Indonesia was prepared to answer any questions regarding ongoing operations in Aceh.

He said the countries were also expected to discuss measures regarding economic cooperation.

"We are also expecting a report from a task force on economic cooperation," Arrizal said without elaborating.