Indonesia-Israel ties discussed by Arab envoys<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Sixteen Middle Eastern and North African envoys
\nmet on Friday with Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab to
\ndiscuss Jakarta's decision to open trade ties with Israel.<\/p>\n
\"The envoys have asked the government to send the minister or
\na delegation to travel to the Middle East explaining the foreign
\npolicy of the country,\" Alwi said after the almost two hour-long
\nmeeting with the Jakarta-based ambassadors.<\/p>\n
The minister said he approved the idea and would discuss the
\nmatter with President Abdurrahman Wahid.<\/p>\n
Spokesman for the envoys, Palestinian Ambassador Ribhi Y.
\nAwad, said the envoys had a frank discussion with Alwi on the
\ncircumstances of Indonesia's decision to open trade ties with the
\nJewish state.<\/p>\n
\"All of the council understood all of his explanations and
\nstipulations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Although Indonesia has some informal contacts with Israel,
\nrelations between the two countries are a sensitive issue.<\/p>\n
Soon after his election, President Abdurrahman said he wished
\nto open trade ties with Israel, arguing that even some Arab
\ncountries have ties with Israel.<\/p>\n
The President and the minister of foreign affairs have
\nsubsequently been placating critics that the new level of
\nengagement is not a precursor to full diplomatic relations.<\/p>\n
They argued that Indonesia would remain steadfast in its
\nprinciple of not opening diplomatic ties until there was a total
\nsolution for the Palestinian question.<\/p>\n
Ribhi stressed that the ambassadors had no intention of
\npressuring or interfering in Indonesia's domestic affairs.<\/p>\n
\"We support the stance of the great Indonesia in the context
\nthat they would never abandon the Palestinian nation's political
\nrights,\" he said, adding that relations between the countries
\nrepresented by the 16 envoys would not change as a result of
\nIndonesia's new policy.<\/p>\n
The envoys were from Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iraq,
\nAlgeria, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Tunisia, Kuwait,
\nJordan, Lebanon, Qatar, Syria, Libya and Morocco.<\/p>\n
When asked whether the envoys had sent a protest letter to the
\nIndonesia government, Ribhi said the envoys did not come to
\nprotest or to pressure Indonesia, but merely sought clarification
\non the trade ties.<\/p>\n
Alwi meanwhile revealed that Kuwait and Libya had stated their
\nintention to begin investing in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
He said Libya had promised to persuade some 'Petro dollar'
\ncountries to jointly come to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"Kuwait officially said on Thursday that it will open mining
\noil projects to the amount of US$6 billion in the country,\" Alwi
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
When asked of his plans to meet influential Jewish figures
\nsuch as George Soros, Henry Kissinger and Rabbi Schneider, Alwi
\nsaid that it would depend on Abdurrahman's schedule in New York
\nnext week.<\/p>\n
\"In New York if there is time we'll arrange a meeting. We will
\nalso meet with United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and
\nthe Portuguese foreign minister,\" Alwi added.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman will be in the United States on Tuesday following
\nhis whirlwind tour to eight southeast Asian countries. (04)<\/p>",
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