I would like to thank you for your welcome and say how glad I am to be here in Jakarta participating in the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference.

On behalf of the European Union I should firs like to pay a warm tribute to the maniford achievements of ASEAN and its members States. Since its establishment in Bangkok in 1967, outstanding progress has been made in the realisation of its aims of accelerating economic growth an of increasing the stability of the South-East Asian region. In many ways ASEAN has beeen a model of regional cooperation. ASEAN has olso has been centrally involved in the creation of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and of the Asia - Europe Meeting (ASEM). The importence of the in creasing role of ASEAN in the maintenance of peace and stability in Asia is now self evident.

With the admission of Vietnam into ASEAN in 1995, and the granting of observer status to Laos and Cambodia and Myanmar, ASEAN is now well on its way to achieving its goal of creating a true community of South East Asia. The European Union welcomes the fact that the people's Republic of China, the Russion Federation and the Union of India have become full diaalogue partner's of ASEAN.

The European Union has always attached very great importance to the dialogue with the countries of the ASEAN in the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference framework. We consider that in new, fast - evolving situation of our relations, the continuation of this dialogue must retain its very priority.

Mr. Chairman, the Opening up of the new partnership between Europe and Asia througt the ASEAM has been the most important development in the dialogue between our two countinets. The talks which the ASEM leaders held in Bangkok, both at the formal meetings and en marge of these, more than fulfilled expections.

The European Union is fully committed implementing with our Asia partners, the substantial number of measures proposed by our leaders at Bangkok. We l ook forward to ever greater cooperation based on the promotion of political dialogue, the deepening of economic relations and the reinforcement of cooperation in various fields as set out in the Chairman's statement at Bangkok.

We believe that a new , friendly and active partnership on the basis of mutual respect and adventage is now developing between Europe and Asia. This indeed an exciting and challenging development. There is so much to share, so many concerns and aspiration which are commond to the poples of Europe and Asia, and indeed to the peoples of the others parts of the world represented by all us dialogue partners with ASEAN at the this meeting today.

The European Union values its membership of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and congratulates ASEAN on its contribution to the progress which has been made already in the ARF process.

Mr. Chairman, over the past year since our last meeting, there have been many positive developments. But while we welcome these , there are also a number of situations whre we must intensify our collective efforts to ensure progress is achieved.

There is deep concern in the European Union at what Is happening in Myanmar. The Boost, of more than 200 supporters of the opposition party, many of whom were political representatives, on the eve of the NLD Congress late in May shows that the SLORC regime still rules in an unacceptable manner. We are also concerned about the well being of Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi, who continues to speak for the true values of civilisation in her country, but under threat of arrest. We continue to be concerned about the overall human rights situation in that country.

The European Union would be grateful to hear the views of ASEAN on what is happening in its neighbour country, and on what, in Its view, the beat approach should be to achieving notional reconciliation in Myanmar.

The situation in the Korean Peninsula remains a source of concern. We have been encouraged by the proposal to hold four-party talks put forward by the Republic of Korea the United States. Our hopes were - and still are - that a positive response from North Korea would help unfreeze this too long enduring dispute between the Koreas. The European Union believes that dialogue between North and South is essential for achieving lasting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in e region. But while the world awaits a positive response from Pyongyang, shortages in North Korea grow worse.

The European Union welcomes the progress that has been made on the nuclear issues in North Korea and we congratulate the founder countries of KEDO especially on their initiative. We hope, that the arrangements for European Union participation in KEDO can be finalized.

We are glad to say that a framework agreement between the EU and the Republic of Korea will shortly be signed, with a joint political declaration, and this will strengthen the cooperation between both parties.

The European Union welcomed the meeting between President Suharto of Indonesia and Prime Minister Guterrez of Portugal en marge of the ASEM in Bangkok last March. We hope that this will help facilitate a settlement of the East Timor question. The European Union has recently defined a Common Position of its Member States on Fast Timor.

I would also repeat the appeal made by my Spanish predecessor as President of the European Union in Brunei lost year for necessary support for the ongoing work of reconstruction and institution building in Cambodia.

Mr. Chairman, Ireland assumed the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1st July. One of the principal priorities and tasks of our Presidency will be the successful chairing of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC), which was convened last March to consider possible changes to the Treaty on European Union. The three principal areas on which the Conference is focusing are (1) making Europe more relevant to Its citizens; (2) enabling the Union to work better and preparing it for enlargement; and(3) giving the Union greater capacity for external action. The Irish Presidency wil l seek to advance the work of the IGC as constructively and expeditiously as possible.

The fight against illegal drugs and the destruction to human life they cause is another priority of the Irish Presidency.

In regard to Asia, the Irish Presidency will do its utmost to enhance the links between Europe and Asia, and develop the momentum which the ASEM has generated.

We are very aware of the great economic upturn which has already taken place in some ASEAN countries and are glad to note that this trend is now happening. in others. We shall encourage, along with the European Commission, economic relations with the countries of Asia, and especially the strengthening of private sector links. The Vice President of the Commission will be speaking about economic relations between Europe and Asia.

We intend to examine the recently completed report of the Eminent Persons Group, for which we are very grateful, to see how their recommendations may be used to enhance the EU-ASEAN dialogue and relations.

In our Presidency we shall help prepare the next meeting of the EU-ASEAN at Foreign Minister level which is to be hold next February in Singapore. A senior officials meeting will be held in Dublin on 19th December.

The particular focus of the priority of Asia for the Irish Presidency will be on the follow-up work to the ASEM in Bangkok, As Presidency, and along with the European Commission, we look forward to cooperating very closely with the Asian ASEM joint coordinators, Japan and Singapore, and indeed this Is already happening. We shall work towards the ASEM 11, which Is to be hold in London in 1998 and the ASEM Foreign Ministers meeting in Singapore next February, and will host a senior officials meeting in Dublin on 20th December.

I am therefore pleased to renew our invitation to our Asian partners to these meetings in Dublin next December.

Mr. Chairman, I shall conclude with the hope expressed by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers in their joint communique last year that "although the Dialogue (with partners) shall continue to serve as a forum for discussing divergent interests, it could place more emphasis on shared interests and objectives in addressing global challenges". The European Union shares this view.