The Hindu : International : ARF meet to focus on security issues

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006

International

International

ARF meet to focus on security issues

Haroon Habib

DHAKA: Bangladesh makes its maiden appearance in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) as its 26th member when the forum holds its ministerial meeting in Kuala Lumpur on July 28.

Foreign Minister Morshed Khan will lead the country's delegation at the 13th ministerial meeting of the forum, which comprises the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and a number of major countries of the world.

The 12th ARF meeting held in Vietnam last year agreed on the admission of Bangladesh as the 26th member. Briefing newspersons, Foreign Secretary Hemayetuddin said the meeting in Kuala Lumpur would exchange views on regional and international security issues.

He said alongside India and Pakistan, Bangladesh's presence would strengthen South Asian participation in the group. He observed that, having experience in peace-keeping and disaster management, Bangladesh would share its experiences with ARF members. He said in the current circumstances, cooperation in peace-keeping, counter-terrorism and disaster relief is of great importance.

On the sidelines of the ARF meet, Mr. Khan will hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts.

Established in 1994, ARF has been dealing with security issues such as confidence-building measures, peace-keeping, disaster relief, counter-terrorism, transnational crimes, maritime security and preventive diplomacy.

AFP reports:

North Korea's presence at the ARF meet provides a rare chance for that country state to escape mounting diplomatic isolation after its missile tests, analysts say. North Korean Foreign Minister Paek Nam-Sun is due to arrive in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday to attend the ARF meet, according to officials at the North Korean embassy.

``Unless they want to be completely isolated, this is an opportunity they should not pass up,'' Peter Beck, a director of Northeast Asia Project and senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, said.

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