NEWS RELEASES
CANADA AND INDONESIA EXPAND CO-OPERATION
July 30, 1997 No. 127
CANADA AND INDONESIA EXPAND CO-OPERATION
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy visited Jakarta, Indonesia, today, where
he paid a courtesy call on President Soeharto and met with Co-ordinating Minister
for Security and Political Affairs Soesilo Soedarman and Foreign Minister
Ali Alatas. The Minister also met with representatives of non-governmental
organizations, the Indonesian National Human Rights Commission and Canadian
companies.
Discussions with the Government of Indonesia covered preparations for the Asia
Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting, being held in
Vancouver in November. They also focussed on areas of shared expertise in
promoting regional security, confidence-building measures and peacekeeping, as
well as the two countries' mutual commitment to ensuring peace and stability in
the South China Sea. Mr. Axworthy re-confirmed his support for Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) efforts and for the mission led by Minister Alatas
to promote a peaceful resolution to the situation in Cambodia.
Minister Axworthy explored ways to increase co-operation in human resource
development and technical training. An agreement was reached to establish a
ministerial-level Bilateral Consultative Forum, with a mandate to promote co-operation in addressing international and bilateral issues, including human
rights.
The Minister raised the issue of East Timor with his interlocutors and reiterated
Canada's strong support for the tripartite (United Nations, Indonesia and
Portugal) talks. He also announced, in conjunction with Minister for International
Co-operation and Minister Responsible for la Francophonie Diane Marleau, that
Canada would be contributing $30 000 through the Canadian International
Development Agency (CIDA) to the All-Inclusive Intra-East Timorese Dialogue. This
UN-led forum brings together East Timorese groups of different political views to
discuss possible solutions to the current situation there. CIDA also contributed
$30 000 to the forum in 1996.
Mr. Axworthy sought advice from the Indonesian National Human Rights Commission,
Canadians resident in Indonesia and non-governmental representatives on ways to
broaden co-operation in the areas of regional and international security, human
rights and socio-economic development. Particular emphasis was placed on how
Canada might assist civil society in developing its capacity to effect progress.
The Minister also encouraged Indonesia to come to Ottawa from December 2 to 4 to
sign a legally binding international treaty to ban anti-personnel mines.
Funding for the East Timor initiative was provided for in the February 1997
federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Catherine Lappe
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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