Koizumi urges peace in Aceh, offers help<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali<\/p>\n
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi reiterated here his
\ngovernment's readiness to help the Indonesian government to end
\nthe war between Jakarta and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and to
\nfind a sustainable and peaceful settlement in Nanggroe Aceh
\nDarussalam province.<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister emphasized that Japan fully supported the
\nIndonesia's territorial unity, including in Aceh. He also
\nexpressed his strong sympathies to President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri who is facing great difficulties in maintaining the
\ncountry's sovereignty due to the huge size of the archipelagic
\nstate.<\/p>\n
He described the President's problem as \"a mind boggling one\".<\/p>\n
\"With regard to Aceh, we certainly hope in the first place for
\na peaceful resolution. Indonesia is a country which comprises
\nnumerous islands. It is needless to say the efforts to maintain
\nthe territorial integrity must be mind boggling. But I believe
\nthe Aceh situation can be restored peacefully while respecting
\nthe territorial integrity of Indonesia,\" Koizumi said in a
\nresponse to the question by The Jakarta Post in a press
\nconference here on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Along with the United States and the World Bank, Japan
\ncohosted the second Tokyo conference on the reconstruction of
\nAceh, shortly before the government declared martial law in the
\nprovince and launched a full military assault.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Koizumi also said his government was prepared to
\nprovide assistance to Indonesia in organizing next year's general
\nelections to strengthen the country's democratization and in
\norder to strengthen consolidation and stability for people.<\/p>\n
\"I am sure it is very important, and I would like to consider
\nwhat Japan can do in order to support the general elections as
\nwell. We would like to strengthen our cooperation with
\nIndonesia,\" said the Prime Minister in a press conference after
\nattending the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit with China,
\nJapan and South Korea.<\/p>\n
Talking about China's rapidly growing influence in Asia, the
\nPrime Minister played down the negative impact of the trend
\ntoward Japan's domination in the region. \"China's remarkable
\ngrowth is not a threat but an opportunity to Japan as well.\"<\/p>\n
Koizumi also expressed his country's concern about the Korean
\nPeninsula situation and repeated Japan's stance that the nuclear
\ncrisis should be settled peacefully.<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister also disclosed that the 10 ASEAN leaders
\npresent at the summit had reaffirmed that they would attend the
\nASEAN-Japan Summit to commemorate the 30-year relationship
\nbetween Japan and the regional grouping in mid-December. He did
\nnot mention Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir who will retire
\nfrom his post and be replaced by the incumbent Deputy Prime
\nMinister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.<\/p>\n
\"The Tokyo summit will be meaningful and significant. We would
\nlike to share with the leaders of ASEAN the future relationship
\nbetween Japan and ASEAN,\" said Koizumi about the summit.<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister returned to Tokyo on Wednesday night.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/koizumi-urges-peace-in-aceh-offers-help-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }