Alatas, Mierlo discuss human rights questions<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali
\nAlatas and his Dutch counterpart Hans van Mierlo discussed human
\nrights during their meeting on Monday, according to a joint
\nstatement issued by the two ministers yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"In the course of consultations the two ministers not only
\nexchanged ideas on issues of a global dimension, but also
\nthoroughly discussed the present bilateral Indonesia-Netherlands
\nrelations, including issues of human rights,\" the statement read
\nwithout elaborating further.<\/p>\n
Mierlo is accompanying Queen Beatrix, who arrived on Monday
\nfor an 11-day visit to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The two ministers also discussed ways to broaden their
\neconomic, scientific and cultural relations with special emphasis
\non the development of the younger generation as an investment in
\nfuture relations, the statement read.<\/p>\n
Queen Beatrix in her address in front of President Soeharto on
\nMonday maintained that issues of basic rights and values are a
\nnatural element in Dutch-Indonesian dialog.<\/p>\n
Warnings<\/p>\n
Her assertion was accompanied by warnings in Soeharto's speech
\nthat state relations should be based on non-interference in
\ndomestic matters.<\/p>\n
Perceiving Dutch interference, Indonesia in 1992 rejected all
\naid from the Netherlands and dissolved the Dutch-led Inter
\nGovernmental Group on Indonesia, a 17-country aid consortium.<\/p>\n
At the opening of the Jakarta Meeting of the Indonesia-
\nNetherlands Association (INA) yesterday, Alatas described the
\n1992 events as \"the final episode in the process of Indonesia's
\neconomic decolonization.\"<\/p>\n
To better forge relations, Alatas pointed to the benefits of
\npeople-to-people contact, similar to the course pursued by the
\nINA.<\/p>\n
\"Such people-to-people contact may also prove to be one
\neffective way of dealing not only with old political
\nsensitivities, but also issues that have in recent times
\nenlivened global discourse, such as human rights,\" he explained.<\/p>\n
On the economic front, Indonesian Minister of Mines and Energy
\nI.B. Sudjana and Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs G.J. Wijers
\nyesterday signed a declaration for joint cooperation in the field
\nof energy.<\/p>\n
The declaration is aimed at facilitating the formulation of
\nenergy-related policies and cooperation for the future.<\/p>\n
Separately, the Dutch Director for Economic Affairs, Frans
\nEngering, told The Jakarta Post yesterday that a financial
\nprogram announced here on Monday to aid Dutch companies dealing
\nwith Indonesia should not be interpreted as a resumption of aid
\nto the government here as previously reported.<\/p>\n
\"It is a trade instrument but has nothing to do with
\ndevelopmental cooperation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Engering explained that unlike other countries, until now the
\nNetherlands has had no export financial system. This program is
\ntherefore aimed at helping Dutch exporters of capital goods and
\nconstruction companies compete with other foreign firms doing
\nbusiness here.<\/p>\n
While ministers from both countries were engaged in various
\ndiscussions, Queen Beatrix yesterday toured the Indonesian
\nProducts Exhibition.<\/p>\n
Wearing a brown silk batik skirt, she showed genuine interest
\nin the products exhibited, particularly in a stand displaying
\nwoven cloth from East Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
She purchased some and the stand owner asked for a photo with
\nthe Dutch monarch in return.<\/p>\n
Today, Beatrix will depart for Surabaya, East Java, where she
\nwill stay before continuing to Yogyakarta tomorrow. (mds)<\/p>\n
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