The Hindu : International : Agenda for ASEAN summit being worked out

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Monday, Jan 03, 2005

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International

Agenda for ASEAN summit being worked out

By P.S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE, JAN. 2. The agenda for an extraordinary international summit on the earthquake-tsunami crisis, scheduled to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia, on January 6, is being worked out, according to officials.

Even as diplomats from the invitee-countries began "preparations," it became clear that some of the key issues being identified are the possibilities of creating an emergency fund and evolving an early warning system and a mechanism for sharing information about impending earthquake-tsunami disasters, not necessarily of the kind experienced by several countries exactly a week ago.

The summit was first proposed by Singapore a few days ago as a collective initiative of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The indication is that the Chinese Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao, will be a key participant. The Chinese Foreign Minister, Li Zhaoxing, discussed with the United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, and the top officials of the World Health Organisation how best Beijing could assist in the relief work.

While India will be represented by the External Affairs Minister, K. Natwar Singh, the others expected to attend include Mr. Kofi Annan, and the outgoing U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, besides the Japanese Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi.

With the total of aid pledges from various quarters reportedly touching the $2 billion mark, as per the latest estimates, Japan raised its profile for the summit by emerging as a lead donor.

Mr. Lee had outlined the summit initiative as a sequel to the formation of an international "core group" which, while consisting of the U.S. and India besides Japan and Australia, was to "lead aid efforts." He said the meeting should aim for "specific outcomes" such as the possibilities of setting up "a special emergency fund for relief and reconstruction" and appointing "a special representative to coordinate international relief."

He identified the U.N. as the forum suited to take these initiatives.

On a different but related plane, Mr. Powell has justified the formation of the "core group" on the ground that the countries named possessed the required assets and capabilities to address the earthquake-tsunami challenge.

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