World powers hail RI's peace drive

By Pandaya

BANGKOK (JP): Reaffirming their commitment to security in Asia-Pacific, the world's major powers yesterday pledged their support for Indonesia's peace initiative on the South China Sea.

Security in the Asia-Pacific region was discussed by the foreign ministers from the six ASEAN member countries and their "dialog partners": the U.S., Canada, European Union, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Yesterday's ASEAN post-ministerial conference (PMC) was dominated by discussions on the security situation in the Korean peninsula, human rights conditions in Myanmar and the dragging civil strife in Cambodia.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott, who represented State Secretary Warren Christopher, said a "looming security challenge" in the region lies in the South China Sea.

"We support the efforts, led by Indonesia, for peaceful settlement and the development of resources," he said.

Indonesia has, since 1990, been sponsoring academic seminars on the solution to the conflict over the oil-rich Spratly islands. The workshop series aim at building mutual trust among the conflicting countries to pave the way for a peaceful solution.

China has said its sovereignty over the Spratlys is non- negotiable and prefers bilateral discussions on the islands with the other claimants -- Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan.

China and Vietnam were engaged in brief skirmishes near the disputed territory in late 1980s. The Philippines and Vietnam recently locked horns over Hanoi's building a lighthouse on one of the tiny islands.

Concern over the smoldering conflict over Spratlys was also voiced by Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans, who called for more efforts to lower tensions in the South China Sea.

ASEAN groups Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei. For this year's ministerial meeting starting on July 22, it also invited Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam, which do not take part in the PMC.

Nuclear

The U.S. reiterated its commitment to security in the Asia- Pacific region in peacetime. "Our forward-deployed military presence provides a strong framework for addressing the region's most pressing security concern," Talbott said.

He said North Korea's refusal to accept constraints on its nuclear program endangers South Korea, Japan and the American allies in Northeast Asia.

"We will continue this patient diplomatic effort. But if North Korea seeks to use dialog as a diversion, we are prepared to move the issue back to the Security Council to pursue sanctions and to take whatever steps appropriate to resolve the issue," he said.

Japan, which supported the presence of the U.S. in Asia- Pacific after the Cold War to help maintain peace and stability in the region, said North Korea's nuclear program threatened Northeast Asia.

"The presence and involvement of the United States is an indispensable factor for peace and stability in the region," Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono said.

The seven world major powers called for more international actions to make Myanmar restore democracy and release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has spent five years under house arrest.

Klaus Kinkel, president of the European Union Council of Ministers, said the EU was prepared to talk with the Myanmar junta, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC).

"It is, however, up to the leadership in Yangon to assure, by making real progress toward democracy and respect for human rights, that this does not remain a one-off meeting," Kinkel said.

Tragedies

The EU's readiness to open talks with SLORC was welcomed by ASEAN ministers, who in the past refused Western countries' call to isolate Myanmar. Instead, they seek "positive engagement" of Myanmar in world forums.

"I'm relieved they (Western countries) begin to understand our positive engagement concept," Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas told journalists.

The ASEAN dialog partners also expressed their concern over the escalation of the Cambodian civil war, which threatens efforts to achieve social and economic reconstruction in that country.

The U.S. urged continued engagement in Cambodia through the international Conference on the Reconstruction of Cambodia by supporting the democratically elected government and cutting off all ties with the Khmer Rouge.

"All of us here should be considering what action is necessary, jointly or individually, to ensure that the past tragedies in Cambodia are not repeated Evans said.