RI to host fifth ASEM meeting
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.