*EPF407 07/01/2004
Text: Powell Says U.S. Greatly Values Good Ties with ASEAN Countries
(U.S., ASEAN cooperating to fight HIV/AIDS, human trafficking) (690)

The United States places the highest value on its good relations with the countries of Southeast Asia (ASEAN) and is working with ASEAN to address trans-national issues such as HIV/AIDS, trafficking in persons and maritime security, according to Secretary of State Colin Powell.

At the July 1 meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Jakarta, Indonesia, Powell also said the United States "has a vital interest in seeing ASEAN strengthen itself as a force for stability and prosperity in the region."

Following is the State Department text of Powell's remarks:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
Jakarta, Indonesia
For Immediate Release
July 1, 2004

REMARKS

REMARKS BY SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN L. POWELL
AT THE U.S.-ASEAN MEETING
ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM

July 1, 2004
Jakarta Conference Center
Jakarta, Indonesia

SECRETARY POWELL: Thank you very much, Mr. Minister. It is a great pleasure for me and members of my delegation to be here, and to serve as co-chairs with you of this very important meeting.

Excellencies and other delegates present, I welcome you here, as well, and it's a pleasure to be having the opportunity to exchange views with all of you. Mr. Minister, let me begin by thanking you for your kind words and concerning the death of President Ronald Reagan. As you know, I was privileged to serve him as his National Security Advisor for two years--the last few years of his Administration--when we saw all these things start to come together, which led to the end of the Cold War. Much commentary has been made over the last few weeks about what he did in Europe and, ["Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall,"] and the end of the Soviet Union, but the principles he held dear and the values that he pursued throughout his Presidency were universal values, which are just as applicable to the events in Asia, Africa, Latin America, everywhere in the world-they were universal values.

And I am pleased that you recognize that these values are just as much at home here in Asia and have affected Asia, just as they did in Europe. And I thank you for extending your condolences and respects to Mrs. Reagan and I will convey them to her personally. Thank you very much, Mr. Minister.

And thank you also, sir, for the extraordinary effort that Thailand has made as our country coordinator. You have made it easier for the United States to advance in the direction that President Bush set almost four years ago, toward deeper and broader engagement with ASEAN. I am looking forward to the peer review this afternoon. I believe that there is much we can be proud of, and I'll also welcome your views on what all of us need to do even better.

The United States continues to attach the highest value to our partnership with ASEAN. We have a vital interest in seeing ASEAN strengthen itself as a force for stability and prosperity in the region, and we want to be as helpful as we possibly can.

The United States strongly supports ASEAN's integration initiative. I am eager to hear your views on the course ASEAN is taking and the ways you think we can help. In the closed session, I will discuss the efforts we are making in conjunction with the ASEAN Secretariat to assist ASEAN in addressing a range of trans-national issues, including HIV/AIDS and trafficking in persons. I will also express our interest in working with ASEAN countries to strengthen maritime security in the region.

My colleagues, we can take satisfaction in the knowledge that our work is having a positive effect. Not only are ASEAN-U.S. trade and investment growing, we are increasingly working together to address broader political and security issues of importance to the region and to the world.

Mr. Minister, if there is no objection, may I suggest that we now move to the closed session to continue our deliberations.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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