World powers hail RI's peace drive

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.