"APEC is not the forum to discuss security, nuclear proliferation and human rights," he was quoted as saying this week by the official Antara news agency.
Washington is under pressure from the U.S. Congress to raise human rights issues during President Bill Clinton's state visit to Indonesia, which begins Nov. 16.
Indonesia, which is hosting the APEC meeting on Nov. 15, has been widely criticized for its annexation of East Timor in 1976, a year after its bloody invasion of the former Portuguese colony.
Barry said the 17-member forum would focus on liberalizing trade in the Asia-Pacific region.
He said fears among developing countries that liberalizing trade would create an uneven playing field were unfounded.
"There is no need to worry about developing economies being eaten up by the developed," he said.
He added that the United States also suffered the same concerns.
He commended Indonesia's APEC leadership, saying Jakarta was not only playing a regional but also a global role.
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