RI offers to host key ministerial meetings

Desy Nurhayati ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 12/02/2008 10:34 AM  |  Headlines

Indonesia has offered to host this month's meeting of ASEAN ministers, with a possible delay to the group's summit in Thailand looming following the political crisis there.

On Monday, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Indonesian government officials had discussed with ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan the possibility of holding the foreign ministers' meeting at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta and the finance ministers' meeting in Bali, in case the summit was postponed.

"I for one hope the summit will be held in Thailand, but if it is not possible in the near future, there will be two urgent agendas: the introduction of the ASEAN Charter, and the finance ministers' meeting," Yudhoyono said at a press conference at the Merdeka Palace in Central Jakarta.

"It will be good if the foreign ministers carry on the planned meeting; Indonesia and the ASEAN secretary-general have proposed it be held at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta."

The meeting of ASEAN+3 finance ministers, which includes Japan, China and South Korea, is deemed crucial in formulating a joint action plan to address the global financial crisis, especially through the Chiang Mai Initiative pooling scheme.

There are concerns the summit's delay will complicate efforts to put into force the ASEAN Charter, which aims to set up a political, economic and social bloc of half a billion people.

Thailand has said a final decision on the summit is due on Wednesday, a week after anti-government protesters began their blockade of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

The occupation of the airport by supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has dramatically escalated Thailand's political crisis.

The venue for the ASEAN summit was moved to the northern city of Chiang Mai, away from the PAD's Bangkok base, well before last week's protests. But the chaos in the capital has put pressure on ASEAN to seek a postponement.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said after meeting with the President that Indonesia would understand if the summit was postponed, but stressed the ministerial meeting could not wait.

"The ministerial meeting should be held according to the initial schedule because we need to make a quick response at the regional level to address the global financial crisis, without waiting for the summit. Therefore we suggest the meeting be held here," Hassan said.

He added it was realistic for ASEAN to reschedule the summit and ASEAN+3 meeting for either January or February, with another international meeting on the agenda in March.

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.