ARF marks 15th year, divisions remain over future

Tony Hotland and Kornelius Purba ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Singapore   |  Thu, 07/24/2008 10:41 AM  |  World

The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) marks its 15th anniversary Thursday, with its 27 participants split over moves toward preventive diplomacy, measures to settle disputes and possible external interference in conflict resolution.

Its inaugural meeting in Bangkok in 1994 was part of a bid to promote trust and confidence, as well as to enhance stability in the Asia-Pacific region. Since then the security forum has focused on dialogues and seminars, rather than on practical cooperation.

A review paper concludes the forum has done quite well, but "requires more concrete and practical cooperation based on collective needs identified through ARF processes".

Given prevailing divisions, ministers will only decide Thursday to "further the development of appropriate preventive diplomacy concepts", according to the Singapore Declaration on the 15th ARF, obtained by The Jakarta Post.

The review paper explains that sovereignty and possible intervention in internal affairs remains an ongoing concern among members. Preventive diplomacy depends on the willingness of disputing parties to accept outside intervention.

Ministers are looking at approving the ARF 2020 Vision Plan by 2010-2012, adopting preventive diplomacy as the primary conflict mitigation mechanism in the region.

The review, which the ARF foreign ministers are to endorse Thursday, concludes that the forum has significantly expanded its range of activities and should be "comprehensive in coverage" since "particular focus or special expertise is necessary".

It says some countries have complained the forum has become "too unwieldy" and its dynamics have been affected, with discussions becoming less informal and interactive.

Ministers have therefore postponed accepting any new members, despite lobbying for admission by Afghanistan, Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic.

A major issue to be discussed by ministers Thursday is disaster relief and management, since many of the ARF countries are in regions prone to natural disasters.

According to the chairman's statement, to be released Thursday, the ministers are calling for "greater civil-military coordination of disaster responses." Countries are to draw up an ARF disaster relief work plan aimed at coordinating ARF-wide training for disaster readiness.

The United States and the Philippines are to arrange disaster relief exercises next year.

On non-proliferation and disarmament, ministers will establish a regular platform for discussion and cooperation. China, Singapore and the United States offered to co-chair the first meeting.

Aside from hosting the forum's first meeting on maritime security, Indonesia will also co-chair with the EU the next session on disaster relief in Banda Aceh, in December this year.

The ministers will also release Thursday a statement on collaboration on the prevention of diversion of base materials into illicit drug manufacture, cases of which have happened in Indonesia and other ARF countries. The statement urges authorities to cooperate in strengthening controls on such materials.

The ARF comprises the 10 ASEAN member states, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Sri Lanka, Timor Leste and the United States.

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