ID :
71748
Thu, 07/23/2009 - 15:03
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/71748
The shortlink copeid
ARF KICKS OFF IN PHUKET WITH FOCUS ON MYANMAR-NORTH KOREA TIES
By D.Arul Rajoo
PHUKET, July 23 (Bernama) -- The 16th Asean Regional Forum (ARF) kicks off in the resort island of Phuket Thursday, with the issue of its two recalcitrant members -- Myanmar and North Korea -- dominating the one-day security dialogue.
The meeting is a rare opportunity for all the world major powers, including
the five members of the United Nations Security Council, participants of the
Six-Party Talks on the situation in the Korean peninsula and Asean to meet
behind closed doors at the heavily guarded resort.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a significant show at the ARF
after the United States skipped the last two of three meetings, sending a signal
that it's "Back in Asia" under President Barack Obama.
Malaysia's Foreign Minister Anifah Aman is leading the Malaysian delegation
at the annual gathering of 26 foreign ministers from the Asia and Pacific, where
the issue of terrorism has regained the spotlight after last week's bombings at
two American hotels in Jakarta which killed nine people.
Besides the 10 Asean members, the ARF also consists of Australia, Canada,
China, the European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, the
US, Pakistan, North Korea, Timor-Leste, Mongolia, Bangladesh and Papua New
Guinea.
While the issue of continued detention of Myanmar democracy icon Aung San
remained the most popular topic among various ministers and the international
media in the past few days, Myanmar's reported military ties with North Korea
and possible cooperation on nuclear technology had rattled the region.
One the eve of the meeting, Clinton raised concern over the ties, saying
that it would explore the issue at Thursday's meeting.
Japan's Foreign Ministry spokesman Kazuo Kodama said the central focus in
the past few days and today was on North Korea, which refused to re-enter the
six-party talks, but had the chance to listen to other stake-holders at the ARF.
"We are serious about this issue as Japan is most vulnerable to the threat
pose by North Korea's nuclear testing and test launching of their ballistic
missile. If they succeed in attaching the nuclear head to the missile, Japan is
an easy target," he said.
Due to that, Kazuo said, Japan hoped that the international community
appreciated and understoof its sense of insecurity.
The ARF, established in 1994 will also address other security issues
affecting the region, including transnational crime.
-- BERNAMA
PHUKET, July 23 (Bernama) -- The 16th Asean Regional Forum (ARF) kicks off in the resort island of Phuket Thursday, with the issue of its two recalcitrant members -- Myanmar and North Korea -- dominating the one-day security dialogue.
The meeting is a rare opportunity for all the world major powers, including
the five members of the United Nations Security Council, participants of the
Six-Party Talks on the situation in the Korean peninsula and Asean to meet
behind closed doors at the heavily guarded resort.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a significant show at the ARF
after the United States skipped the last two of three meetings, sending a signal
that it's "Back in Asia" under President Barack Obama.
Malaysia's Foreign Minister Anifah Aman is leading the Malaysian delegation
at the annual gathering of 26 foreign ministers from the Asia and Pacific, where
the issue of terrorism has regained the spotlight after last week's bombings at
two American hotels in Jakarta which killed nine people.
Besides the 10 Asean members, the ARF also consists of Australia, Canada,
China, the European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, the
US, Pakistan, North Korea, Timor-Leste, Mongolia, Bangladesh and Papua New
Guinea.
While the issue of continued detention of Myanmar democracy icon Aung San
remained the most popular topic among various ministers and the international
media in the past few days, Myanmar's reported military ties with North Korea
and possible cooperation on nuclear technology had rattled the region.
One the eve of the meeting, Clinton raised concern over the ties, saying
that it would explore the issue at Thursday's meeting.
Japan's Foreign Ministry spokesman Kazuo Kodama said the central focus in
the past few days and today was on North Korea, which refused to re-enter the
six-party talks, but had the chance to listen to other stake-holders at the ARF.
"We are serious about this issue as Japan is most vulnerable to the threat
pose by North Korea's nuclear testing and test launching of their ballistic
missile. If they succeed in attaching the nuclear head to the missile, Japan is
an easy target," he said.
Due to that, Kazuo said, Japan hoped that the international community
appreciated and understoof its sense of insecurity.
The ARF, established in 1994 will also address other security issues
affecting the region, including transnational crime.
-- BERNAMA
