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ASEAN Dialogues End



Subject: ASEAN Dialogues End

/* Written  6:36 am  Jul 28, 1994 by apakabar@xxxxxxxxx in gn:reg.indonesia */
/* ---------- "ASEAN Dialogues End" ---------- */

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>From julia_read@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Thu Jul 28 03:57 EDT 1994
Date: Thu, 28 Jul 1994 17:54:37 +1000
Subject: IN-  ASEAN talks end
To: John MacDougall <apakabar@xxxxxxxxx>
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Mail*Link(r) SMTP               IN:  ASEAN talks end

DATE=7/27/94
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-162677*
TITLE=ASEAN TALKS END (L)
BYLINE=DAN ROBINSON
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
 

INTRO:  ANNUAL MEETINGS BETWEEN THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST 
ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN) AND ITS DIALOGUE PARTNERS (U-S, CANADA, 
JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND E-U) ENDED 
WEDNESDAY IN BANGKOK.  REGIONAL SECURITY, TRADE, AND HUMAN RIGHTS
WERE DISCUSSED IN A WEEK OF TALKS.  V-O-A'S DAN ROBINSON REPORTS 
SIX SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS SIGNALED THEY ARE MOVING FROM A PAST 
FOCUS ON ECONOMIC ISSUES TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO REDUCING 
TENSIONS IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION:  

TEXT:  A FINAL NEWS CONFERENCE BY THE DIALOGUE PARTNERS AND THEIR
SOUTHEAST ASIAN ALLIES (THAILAND, MALAYSIA, INDONESIA, SINGAPORE,
PHILIPPINES, BRUNEI) FOCUSED ON EVERYTHING FROM NORTH KOREA'S 
NUCLEAR PROGRAM TO EAST-WEST DISPUTES OVER HUMAN RIGHTS AND 
TRADE.  

THE ABSENCE OF U-S SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER, WHO WAS
IN WASHINGTON FOR THE SIGNING OF THE ISRAEL-JORDAN AGREEMENT, 
DISAPPOINTED MANY SOUTHEAST ASIAN OFFICIALS.  

U-S OFFICIALS WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY TO REASSURE EAST ASIAN ALLIES
THAT THE UNITED STATES INTENDS TO REMAIN ENGAGED IN THE REGION. 
UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR ECONOMIC AFFAIRS, JOAN SPERO, DENIED 
THERE IS ANY AMERICAN MALAISE TOWARD THE REGION:   

                        // SPERO ACT //  

         I THINK WE HAVE SIGNALED OUR STRONG AND DEEP INTEREST IN
         ASIA, THE PRIORITY THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION HAS FOR U-S 
         POLICY, AND I WOULD HOPE, BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO ASK THEM,
         OUR ASEAN PARTNERS, OUR ASIAN PARTNERS, OUR PACIFIC 
         PARTNERS, DON'T FEEL A MALAISE ANYMORE, IF THEY EVER 
         DID.   

                         // END ACT //  

U-S ALLIES IN EAST AND SOUTHEAST ASIA REAFFIRMED THIS WEEK THEIR 
SUPPORT FOR U-S DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THE NORTH KOREAN 
NUCLEAR DISPUTE.  

// OPT // SOUTH KOREA'S FOREIGN MINISTER, HAN SUNG-JU ECHOED 
COMMENTS BY DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT CALLING ON 
NORTH KOREA TO TAKE A SERIOUS APPROACH TO UPCOMING TALKS IN 
GENEVA OR FACE RENEWED INTERNATIONAL MOVES TOWARD SANCTIONS:  

                         // HAN ACT // 

         WE HOPE THAT NORTH KOREA WILL COME TO GENEVA WITH THE 
         INTENTION OF RESOLVING THIS ISSUE.  IF NORTH KOREA 
         INTENDS TO USE THIS OCCASION JUST TO DELAY OR DIVERT THE
         ISSUE, THEN UNFORTUNATELY WE MAY HAVE TO REPEAT THE 
         CYCLE. 

                 // END ACT //  // END OPT //  

THERE WERE ALSO RENEWED CALLS FOR A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO 
TERRITORIAL DISPUTES IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA, INVOLVING CHINA, 
VIETNAM, TAIWAN AND SEVERAL ASEAN COUNTRIES.  

// OPT // ON TRADE, ONCE AGAIN ASEAN AND OTHER COUNTRIES 
PROTESTED WHAT THEY CALL WESTERN ATTEMPTS TO LINK SOCIAL AND 
LABOR ISSUES TO WORLD TRADE TALKS.  

HOWEVER, ALL THOSE ATTENDING THE BANGKOK TALKS AGREED ON THE NEED
TO IMPLEMENT AGREEMENTS REACHED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE URUGUAY 
ROUND OF TRADE TALKS. // END OPT //  

ASEAN SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONVINCE DIALOGUE NATIONS THAT 
ITS ENGAGEMENT POLICY TOWARD THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT IN BURMA CAN
YIELD RESULTS.  

THE UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI REMAINS A MAIN 
DEMAND FOR ALL.  HOWEVER, DIALOGUE PARTNERS -- INCLUDING THE 
UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA AND THE EUROPEAN UNION -- APPEAR WILLING
TO LET ASEAN PROVE IT CAN GET RESULTS.  

// OPT // AUSTRALIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER, GARETH EVANS, SAID 
RANGOON NEEDS TO DO MUCH MORE.  HE SAID ANY APPROACH THAT HAS 
PROMISE SHOULD BE GIVEN TIME TO WORK, BUT DECLINED TO SPECIFY A 
TIMETABLE:   

                       // EVANS ACT  //  

         WE SHOULD BE ALL IN THE BUSINESS OF TRYING, BY ALL 
         APPROPRIATE MEANS, TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION.

                 // END ACT // // END OPT  //  

IN 1995, SOUTHEAST ASIAN LEADERS RETURN TO BANGKOK FOR A SUMMIT. 
BRUNEI HOSTS THE NEXT GATHERING OF ASEAN FOREIGN MINISTERS, 
DIALOGUE PARTNERS, AND THE ASEAN REGIONAL SECURITY FORUM 
INAUGURATED THIS WEEK.  (SIGNED)

NEB/DR/LWM

27-Jul-94 1:50 PM EDT (1750 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America