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THE NATION: Suharto, Ramos not lik



Politics 

      Suharto, Ramos not likely
      to attend Asem

      THE leaders of Indonesia and the
      Philippines may not attend the second
      Asia-Europe (Asem II) meeting scheduled
      to be held in London early next month, an
      informed source said Tuesday. 

      Indonesian President Suharto is likely to
      send his newly-appointed Vice President
      Jusuf Habibie to the meeting to be held
      from April 1 to 5. 

      The source cited Suharto's poor health as
      the main reason for him not participating.
      Asem, launched in Bangkok two years ago,
      is a forum of 10 Asian countries and 15
      European Union nations. 

      The source also added that Suharto was
      too busy with his country's economic
      collapse that resulted in his government's
      call for an International Monetary Fund (IMF)
      bailout package. 

      Despite the aid, Indonesia's situation is
      deteriorating mainly due to Suharto's strong
      criticism of the IMF measures. 

      ''Moreover it is believed that President
      Suharto does not want to encounter
      criticism about his attack on the IMF from
      other countries' leaders. So he may use his
      poor health as an excuse in not attending
      the Asem II,'' the source said. 

      Meanwhile, Philippine President Fidel
      Ramos may send his House Speaker Jose
      Devenecia to the London meeting on his
      behalf. The source said it was still unclear
      why Ramos would not participate. 

      Asian countries due to participate in the
      meeting are pushing hard for a separate
      Asem II statement on the Asian crisis at the
      end of the meeting but the idea has yet to
      receive the backing of EU countries. 

      Meanwhile, a Foreign Ministry source said
      that Asem's European participants may
      issue a separate statement on the Asian
      financial situation to highlight the region's
      concerns. 

      The source said senior officials of Asem's
      coordinating countries -- Thailand, Japan,
      the United Kingdom -- and the European
      Commission had discussed the
      preparation of a draft statement during a
      two-day meeting which ended Tuesday. 

      However, the final decision would be left up
      to the host of the second Asem meeting,
      British Prime Minister Tony Blair. 

      Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary
      Saroj Chavanavirat chaired the two-day
      meeting which focused on the draft of the
      chairman's statement. 

      Senior officials of the coordinating
      countries are scheduled to meet again on
      April 1 which will be followed by a meeting
      of all 25 participating countries in Asem,
      plus the European Commission, on April 2
      in London. 

      The Nation