Page 11 - ARUBA TODAY

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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 31 July 2019

Top diplomats gather in Bangkok for key Asia-Pacific talks

By GRANT PECK and expressed interest in
Associated Press reviving talks on North Ko-
BANGKOK (AP) — Top dip- rean denuclearization, so
lomats from the Asia-Pacif- sideline talks are a possibil-
ic region started gathering ity.
Tuesday in the Thai capital Reports say that the United
to discuss issues of concern States is also willing to hold
to the area, including se- a sidelines meeting with
curity on the Korean pen- Japan and South Korea to
insula and China's territorial discuss the bitter trade dis-
claims in the South China pute between the two East
Sea. Asian nations that threatens
The meetings in Bangkok to disrupt Seoul's electron-
are hosted by the 10-mem- ics industry by hindering its
ber Association of South- purchase of semiconduc-
east Asian Nations, chaired tor components.
this year by Thailand. Thai The dispute also draws on
officials say there will be long-standing bitterness
27 meetings in all through over Japan's actions to-
Saturday, and 31 countries ward Korea during World
and alliances will partici- War II and threatens to
pate. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, and Thailand Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai share poison relations at a time
a light moment after a press conference at Foreign Ministry in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, July
The core ASEAN Foreign 30, 2019. when Washington would
Ministers Meeting brings to- Associated Press prefer to see a united front
gether the group's top dip- in dealing with North Korea.
lomats, but they are likely to kok this week include U.S. India, the European Union, Bangkok, a Thai foreign ASEAN's own most pressing
be overshadowed by the Secretary of State Mike Japan and South Korea. ministry spokesman said last concern arguably involves
big power players attend- Pompeo, Chinese Foreign Most attention will be on week, though it is not clear Beijing's expansive territo-
ing the adjunct meetings, Minister Wang Yi and Rus- these side meetings, in if Pyongyang is sending rial claims in the South Chi-
such as the ASEAN Region- sian Foreign Minister Sergey which ASEAN will play a its foreign minister. Wash- na Sea, which pits it against
al Forum and the East Asia Lavrov. supporting role, if any. ington has downplayed the claims of Vietnam, the
Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Other ASEAN dialogue A representative of North Pyongyang's recent launch Philippines, Malaysia and
The heavy-hitters in Bang- partners include Australia, Korea will be present in of medium-range missiles Brunei.q

Cambodia fines waste importer, sets deadline for its return

Associated Press Department of Customs meeting that Cambodia is
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia and Excise, said at a news not a dumping ground for
(AP) — A top customs of- conference that the waste any kind of waste and does
ficial in Cambodia said was imported by the lo- not allow the import of any
Tuesday that a local com- cal company Chungyuen kind of plastic waste or oth-
pany that illegally imported Plastic Manufacture Co. in er recyclables.
almost seven dozen ship- 27 shipments running from The cross-border disposal
ping containers of plas- September 2018 to this of waste became a major
tic waste from the United month. regional issue after China,
States and Canada has He said the company has previously its main desti-
been ordered to pay a fine promised to ship the waste nation, barred imports of
of nearly $260,000, and will back out of the port of Si- almost all foreign plastic
face criminal charges if the hanoukville on the Gulf of waste early last year. Waste
waste is not sent back to its Thailand by the deadline. shipments shifted to other Kun Nhim, general director of Cambodia's General Department
countries of origin before The July 16 discovery of the countries such as Indone- of Customs and Excise of the Ministry of Economy and Finance,
Aug. 24. waste came a few days sia, Thailand and Malaysia, gives a press conference, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday,
Kun Nhim, director general after Prime Minister Hun which in turn also started July 30, 2019.
of Cambodia's General Sen declared at a Cabinet rejecting shipments.q Associated Press