Alatas: No official ties with Israel<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas said
\nyesterday that although contacts between people in Indonesia and
\nIsrael are growing, diplomatic relations remain unlikely in the
\nnear future.<\/p>\n
\"Yes, presently there are personal contacts. Maybe soon there
\nmight be trade relations,\" Alatas said when asked about reports
\nof increasing ties between the two states.<\/p>\n
Early this month, executives of Koors Industries Ltd, Israel's
\nbiggest industrial concern, visited Indonesia to explore business
\nprospects. It is not immediately clear who they met in Indonesia
\nas their visit was not covered by the press.<\/p>\n
Alatas emphasized that on a government level, Indonesia
\nremains faithful to its policy that a comprehensive solution to
\nthe Middle East problem be established before it opens diplomatic
\nties with Israel.<\/p>\n
\"Our stance has not changed,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Public attitude towards unofficial contacts with Israel have
\nbecome less critical now with more and more Indonesians making
\npilgrimage to the Al Aqsa (Dome of the Rock) Mosque, a Moslem
\nholy shrine, in the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.<\/p>\n
Only two years ago, a group of Indonesian journalists were
\nwidely criticized for visiting Israel at the invitation of the
\nJewish state. A group of Moslem leaders received similar
\ntreatment when they traveled to Israel last year.<\/p>\n
Alatas said that while personal contacts between the two
\ncountries are growing, the government would not be hasty in
\nchanging its policy. \"Let's not take things too fast. We have to
\ndo this slowly,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In the absence of diplomatic ties, President Soeharto met the
\nlate Israeli prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin, on two occasions in
\nthe last three years: in Jakarta in 1993 when Soeharto was
\nchairman of the Non-Aligned Movement, and in New York last
\nOctober during 50th anniversary of the United Nations.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday issued a
\nstatement expressing regret over Sunday's bombing in Jerusalem
\nand Ashqelon that left 25 people dead.<\/p>\n
\"The government of Indonesia hopes that these acts of violence
\nwill not hamper the ongoing peace process in the Middle East,\"
\nthe statement said. (mds)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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