RI urges ASEM members to oppose unilateralism in international issue

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali

Indonesia, as the host of the fifth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) now underway in Denpasar, Bali, is calling on member countries to reject unilateralism in dealing with international issues.

Ministry of foreign affairs director general for America and Europe Arizal Effendi said countries participating in the meeting were likely to reach a common perception about multilateralism.

"As the host country we would like to pursue efforts to strengthen multilateralism and the United Nations, which has been left out of several recent world crises," Arizal said here on Monday.

The issue of multilateralism surfaced earlier this year after the United States and a handful of allies launched a military operation in Iraq without UN approval and in spite of strong opposition from dozens of countries including France and Germany.

The operation led to the downfall of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and the current attempts to install a more Western- friendly democratic system in Iraq by the U.S. and its strongest ally, the United Kingdom.

In 2001, the U.S. and its allies deposed the Taliban government in Afghanistan for its role in aiding and abetting the head of the al-Qaeda terrorist network Osama bin Laden, the principal suspect in the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington in September 2001, but that action was, for the most party authorized by the international community and the UN.

Arizal admitted that many developed countries opposed the anti-unilateralism drive, but that "Indonesia is hoping that the idea will be accepted by developed countries like the United Kingdom and Japan".

Foreign ministers from 10 Asian countries -- Brunei, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- and three European countries -- Italy, Belgium and Ireland -- have confirmed their participation at the meeting where they will discuss various regional issues such as North Korea's nuclear program and the war on terrorism.

European Union Commissioner for External Relations Chris Patten is also planning to make an appearance.

They are also expected to issue a chairman's statement and a political declaration against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, ostensibly to put more diplomatic pressure on North Korea as it defies demands to halt its nuclear arms program.

Arizal said the political declaration, proposed by Japan, called on all countries throughout the world to eliminate weapons of mass destruction.

"However, we still differ on how we should do that as Japan suggests that it be conducted by several countries, but we propose it be done under UN auspices," he said.

He said the differing views on the mechanism would be addressed in the upcoming foreign minister's meeting. Indonesia, he said, would remain firm in its stance to emphasize the central role of UN.

The senior officials' meeting of ASEM will begin on Tuesday to prepare the two documents to be discussed in the coming foreign minister's meeting, which starts on Wednesday. President Megawati Soekarnoputri is expected to be the keynote speaker at the opening ceremonies.

Another sticking point sure to be brought up is the growing concern over the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) from the European Union which would retain the large subsidies for farmers in those countries.

Arizal said that Indonesia, as a developing country, was against the massive farm subsidies in Europe as they would kill the competitive advantage of Indonesia's agriculture products.

"However, the issue will not be raised in this meeting as we will only hear a report from the task force for bolstering closer economic cooperation between the two continents," he said.