Singaporean minister: ASEAN solidarity remains solid
By Kornelius Purba
SINGAPORE (JP): Singaporean Minister of Foreign Affairs S. Jayakumar said on Wednesday the spirit of solidarity and cooperation prevailed in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) despite temporary weakening caused by the economic crisis and political transition faced by some members.
The minister, also chairman of the ASEAN Standing Committee, dismissed fears the grouping would be diminished by bilateral disputes among its members, saying they were nothing new.
"In the past 30 years, if you look at history there are also ups and downs (in relations) and there have also always been bilateral problems," Jayakumar told a group of visiting Indonesian journalists at his ministry.
He said ASEAN was once hailed as one of the world's finest regional groupings because its members enjoyed robust economic growth and strong political stability.
A strong commitment to put the grouping's interest above bilateral disputes affecting some members had played a pivotal role in maintaining its strength, he added.
Jayakumar believed recent meetings of foreign and economic ministers in Manila and New York respectively attested to the survival of the cohesive spirit.
The economic ministers agreed to accelerate the realization of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) -- from 2003 to 2001 -- despite the current economic turmoil.
"What is important is to keep the group on course and that was the decision that was agreed," Jayakumar remarked.
ASEAN comprises Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its leaders are scheduled to hold an official summit in Hanoi in December.
Indonesian President B.J. Habibie and Philippine President Joseph Estrada irked Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad early this month when they expressed concern over the arrest and beating of fired deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Jayakumar, concurrently Singapore's minister of law, acknowledged his country had its own bilateral problem with Malaysia, but added that the overall relationship remained firm.
Habibie has complained that Singapore conveyed belated congratulations after he replaced Soeharto in May.
He also expressed unhappiness with Singapore's slow action in disbursing a US$5 billion loan to Indonesia in the form of a trade finance guarantee scheme.
"We have never had any experience in trade financing before," Jayakumar explained.