Uk Favours Indias Inclusion In Asia-Europe Forum

Britain yesterday said it would be difficult to conceive an Asian organisation without India but New Delhis inclusion in the Asia Europe Meeting (Asem) could be finalised only by consensus among member nations.

British foreign minister Malcolm Rifkind has said the UK believed that it would be beneficial for India and Pakistan to be invited to Asem.

It is difficult to conceive of some body which represents Asia but which does not include India and Pakistan, but we very much recognise that this is not a matter for Britain to decide or any one country to decide, Rifkind told reporters.

 

This must be a matter to be determined by consensus by all the existing membership as a whole that is the only proper way to proceed, Rifkind said.

However, sources said Indias participation at the next Asem in London next year seemed bleak, but whether New Delhi will be included in the forums future meets will be discussed at the first Asem foreign ministers conference in Singapore today.

Sources said the meeting may not announce the admittance of new members but may only review the progress in the one year of its formation. India has been lobbying hard in the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) and the European Union (EU) to be admitted to the body.

Rifkind sounded a note of optimism, saying that each country would have its view and Britain hoped that its views would be widely supported. There are clearly many countries that take a similar view, we will need to see whether that is a basis for consensus.

Todays Asem foreign ministers meet will be attended by foreign ministers of 10 Asian nations (China, South Korea, Japan and seven Asean members) and 15 European nations, besides the vice-presidents of the European Commission.

Sources said the meet would coordinate and prepare for the second Asem summit to be held in the UK in 1998. Review of the follow up action on proposals tabled at the Bangkok Asem meet last year would be undertaken to ensure that the momentum begun at the Bangkok Asem is not lost, they added.

A Singapore foreign ministry release said that to strengthen political dialogue between Asia and Europe, the foreign ministers will engage in constructive discussion on international and regional issues.

It added that the Asem foreign ministers were also expected to discuss the future development of Asem.