Senior officials finalize draft of ASEM statement
Senior officials finalize draft of ASEM statement
By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat
BANGKOK (JP): Senior officials from 10 Asian and 15 European
countries yesterday held their final meeting here yesterday to
wrap up the draft of the Chairman's Statement for the Asia-Europe
Summit which opens today.
The permanent secretary of Thailand's Foreign Ministry, Thet
Devakula, said the draft, which had been in the works since
December, was now ready for approval.
"There was a final round-up of the approximate content of the
Chairman's Statement" Thet said of the senior officials meeting
yesterday.
He declined to reveal the exact contents of the draft but
acknowledged that apart from economic cooperation and partnership
some social issues might also be mentioned.
Answering questions regarding East Timor, Thet categorically
denied that the issue was discussed during the senior officials
meeting.
"I have been present all along at the senior officials meeting
and so far I haven't heard anything about Timor," he said.
"I think the emphasis of the senior officials meeting is to
try and anticipate what the leaders will decide on the various
issues to be discussed," Thet said.
The Indonesian delegation at the senior officials level was
headed by the foreign ministry's director general for political
affairs Izhar Ibrahim.
Thet stressed that the draft statement is still subject to the
leaders' approval and that there may very well be some additional
items added to it.
"The anticipation is that at the leaders meeting other points
could emerge which would be included in the chairman's
statement," he said.
When pressed further on the question of whether human rights
would be one of those issues, Thet admitted he did not know.
"But I think that on this question you have to get your
priorities right. As far as Asia is concerned, there is a common
wish to get on with economic development," he remarked, adding
that "I don't think that any of us in Asia want to neglect human
rights."
Japan's foreign ministry spokesperson, Hiroshi Hashimoto, when
asked about his country's position on this issue, questioned the
relevance of such specific topics in this inaugural summit.
"It is not relevant to touch on specific issues. But let's not
neglect human rights," he said.
Hashimoto said Japan would raise issues pertaining to the
reform of the United Nations, a comprehensive nuclear test ban
treaty and regional matters such as those pertaining to North
Korea.
When asked about the possibility of institutionalizing the
Asia-Europe summit, Hashimoto said his government believes it is
something that should "evolve naturally."
Officials separately said the statement is likely to include a
commitment to the pursuit of a nuclear test ban treaty and
disarmament.
Also likely to be mentioned is the Southeast Asian Nuclear
Weapons Free Zone treaty, despite the fact that declared nuclear
states including Britain, China and France, have refused to sign
it.
The Chairman's statement would also affirm the participating
governments' commitment towards an effective reform of the UN.
In fostering political dialog, the statement stresses that
this must be conducted on the basis of mutual respect, equality
and non-interference.
On the economic side, the statement is expected to underline
the need to boost the low level of European investment in Asia.
Apart from improving trade relations, the statement also
mentions the subject of cooperation through various arrangements
such as the World Trade Organization.
The need for the transfer of environmentally sound technology
to developing countries will also be highlighted with specific
reference to the agricultural, scientific, communications, energy
and transport sectors.
The draft Chairman's Statement closes with the possibility of
a second Asia-Europe summit in two or three years time. Delegates
have suggested that the next meeting should take place in London
in 1998. (mds)