Beatrix's visit promotes greater understanding<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas said
\nyesterday that the visit of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands to
\nIndonesia has enhanced a greater mutual understanding between the
\ntwo countries.<\/p>\n
But as Queen Beatrix ends her visit today, Alatas stressed
\nthat Indonesia would not accept any new offer of Dutch financial
\naid, despite the stronger relations.<\/p>\n
"There's no reason for going back to the old pattern of ties,"
\nAlatas told reporters after attending a ceremony for the swearing
\nin of 17 ambassadors by President Soeharto yesterday.<\/p>\n
Queen Beatrix is scheduled to complete her visit to Indonesia
\ntoday, after touring the nation from Jakarta, across Java, parts
\nof Sulawesi, Kalimantan and Sumatra. The queen, who is
\naccompanied by her husband Prince Claus and her son Crown Prince
\nWilliam Alexander during her visit, will depart today from Tabing
\nairport in Padang, West Sumatra, to Singapore, on board a special
\nplane.<\/p>\n
Asked about his impression of the visit, Alatas told reporters
\nthat politically, it has led to a deeper understanding between
\nthe two countries, while economically, it has led to a stronger
\ncooperation in trade and investment.<\/p>\n
"Overall, I think the visit has given satisfactory results,"
\nhe said. "This has also been a historic visit, because it
\ncoincides with the 50th year since Indonesia proclaimed its
\nindependence. The fact that the visit comes at a time like this
\nhas already given it a special meaning."<\/p>\n
Queen Beatrix, in her speech during a dinner hosted by
\nPresident Soeharto on Aug. 21, acknowledged the suffering of the
\nIndonesian people inflicted on them by Dutch military actions to
\ntry and reimpose colonial rule in the country after 1945. The
\nqueen, however, stopped short of apologizing for the Dutch
\nactions.<\/p>\n
Some politicians in Indonesia, and also the Netherlands, have
\nurged the Dutch ruler use the visit to make a formal apology, and
\nto recognize Indonesia's independence as starting from Aug. 17,
\n1945, when it was proclaimed by the nation's leaders, instead of
\nDecember 1949, when the Netherlands formally agreed to a transfer
\nof sovereignty.<\/p>\n
However, the Indonesian government has stressed that it would
\nnot ask Queen Beatrix either to apologize or recognize
\nIndonesia's date of independence. Instead, the government has
\nbeen hammering more on the need for the two countries to continue
\nbuilding their relations, which is based more on an equal
\npartnership.<\/p>\n
In 1992, Indonesia rejected any new offer of Dutch financial
\nassistance, accusing The Hague of continued interference in its
\ndomestic affairs. Since then, the two countries have rebuilt
\ntheir relations, based on a new footing.<\/p>\n
Alatas said yesterday that the decision by Indonesia in 1992
\nturned out to have led to more harmonious cooperative relations
\nbetween the two countries. "This is because one aspect, that had
\ncreated friction in the past, has now been removed from the
\noverall relations," he said.<\/p>\n
"I could even say that with the decision, the process of
\ndecolonization of the Indonesian economy (from the Netherlands)
\nwas completed.<\/p>\n
"As it turned out, our relations have not taken a turn for the
\nworse. On the contrary, they have become better in the economic
\nfield, with increasing trade and investment ties."<\/p>\n
Alatas said the two countries are also looking beyond
\nbilateral matters in their relations, given that each has
\nimportant positions in its respective regions; the Netherlands in
\nEurope and Indonesia in Southeast Asia and East Asia.<\/p>\n
The Netherlands, he said, could become the gateway for
\nIndonesian exports to Europe, while Indonesia could be used in a
\nsimilar way for Netherlands exports to East Asia. (emb)<\/p>",
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