Southwest Pacific Forum 'should not eclipse ASEAN'

Southwest Pacific Forum 'should not eclipse ASEAN'

JAKARTA (JP): Former minister of foreign affairs Ali Alatas
has said that the establishment of the projected Southwest
Pacific Forum should not in any way reduce the importance of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Speaking at a seminar titled Identifying Challenges and
Opportunities in the West Pacific Region, Ali underlined on
Tuesday that ASEAN should remain the cornerstone of Indonesia's
foreign policy.

"The idea, if it should be translated into reality, must not
diminish and should not be conceived as threatening in any way or
degree for the paramount value and importance of ASEAN," Ali said
in his address at the seminar.

"The possible establishment of a new forum should be based on
rational consideration and objective that are in conformity with
the particular geopolitical interest of the participating
countries," he continue.

The senior diplomat also underlined that such cooperation
should embrace economic and political cooperation, with economic
and technical cooperation remaining the main objective of
participating countries.

"Considering the economic cooperation, in a certain extent it
has been taken by such forums as Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) and Asian Free Trade agreement," Ali
contended.

President Abdurrahman Wahid suggested the establishment of the
West Pacific Forum last year, saying it was necessary to have
such a forum to deal with the increased separatist movements in
the country and to accommodate the presence of the independent
former province of East Timor.

Besides Indonesia, the President proposed that Australia, New
Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and East Timor should
join the forum.

The two-day seminar is being held to discuss the advantages
and disadvantages of forming such a forum in the region.

Ali asserted that Asia Pacific had become an important partner
to ASEAN, and that five of nine dialog partner countries of the
association are Pacific countries, while Papua New Guinea has
been an observer of ASEAN for years.

However, he admitted that so far there was no forum that could
anticipate problems that may emerge in the west pacific region or
devise ways to reduce tension and confrontation among the
countries.

In his opening speech, foreign minister Alwi Shihab mentioned
reasons to establish the forum: the newly independent East Timor,
increased separatist movements in the region, and economic
devastation that has weaken the capability of the region.

"The Indonesian government is convinced that we can best
achieve mutual cooperation in the region through a forum in which
every country can contribute in finding ways and means to solve
the problems and concerns that are besetting the entire region,"
Alwi said.

"The projected forum can also be expected to have a positive
impact on the bilateral relations of the countries of the region
in the context of promoting peace and security," Alwi said,
addressing the seminar.

He further assured that the new forum would not diminish the
country's commitment to ASEAN as it would remain the cornerstone
of Indonesia's foreign policy. (dja)