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)