Soeharto's views on Bogor's declaration win support

JAKARTA (JP): Economic leaders from Japan, Singapore and Taiwan came out in support yesterday of President Soeharto's views on the declaration to be adopted by APEC leaders in Bogor tomorrow, a senior Indonesian official said yesterday.

Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama, Singaporean Premier Goh Chok Tong and Taiwan State Minister Vincent Siew met separately with Soeharto yesterday to discuss the final preparations of the APEC economic leaders meeting.

Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono told journalists that Murayama, who arrived here on Saturday, also affirmed his commitment to help make the meeting a success.

"I would like to stress that the Bogor declaration will be the conclusion of the economic leaders' views as presented by their special delegates," he said.

Moerdiono said Soeharto and Murayama agreed to strengthen their cooperation in the future. The prime minister also reaffirmed Japan's commitment to continuing assistance, he added.

Japan is Indonesia's largest donor through the Consultative Group on Indonesia (CGI), a consortium of aid donor countries. It is also the largest investor in Indonesia.

On a separate occasion, a spokesman for the Japanese foreign ministry, Takeshi Nakane, confirmed the discussion about the Bogor declaration between Soeharto and Murayama.

"This (declaration draft) is subject to further deliberation by the leaders," he said. But he added he was "not in a position to disclose the conversation about this matter."

"Prime Minister Murayama stated that Japan hopes an informal leaders meeting can take place next year as well, and President Soeharto supported this hope," he said.

Moerdiono said that the President received Taiwan's Siew in the framework of APEC economic leaders.

Indonesia has a one-China policy and has refrained from inviting Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui's to attend the economic leaders meeting in Bogor to avoid any possibility of offending China. (mds/pan)

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