Message from Prime Minister Willem Kok<\/p>\n
This year 1995 is the 50th anniversary of the Republic of
\nIndonesia's declaration of independence.<\/p>\n
Let me therefore take this opportunity to offer President
\nSoeharto and the Indonesian people my sincere congratulations on
\nreaching this milestone.<\/p>\n
This important occasion is receiving a great deal of attention
\nin the Netherlands, both in the media as through exhibitions,
\nseminars and cultural events.<\/p>\n
The declaration of independence -- 50 years ago -- was the
\nbeginning of a new era in our history and in the relations
\nbetween our two countries and peoples.<\/p>\n
The struggle after the declaration of independence generated a
\ndesire to pursue a process of gradual decolonization, to put the
\ncolonial past behind us, and to allow Indonesia to take its
\nrightful place among the independent countries of the world.<\/p>\n
Agreements were concluded to this end, but the differences of
\nopinion on how they were to be put into effect proved to be huge.<\/p>\n
As a result, the parting of the ways between our two countries
\nbecame a process that was deeply painful and marked by bitter
\nstruggle.<\/p>\n
Many lives were lost on both sides, and many suffered lasting
\ninjury.<\/p>\n
It is deeply tragic that the transition to actual independence
\nshould have caused so much pain, ill feeling and unbearable
\nsuffering.<\/p>\n
At the end our two countries eventually came together as
\nequals to give new meaning to age old ties; ties that go back to
\nthe first contacts between our two peoples.<\/p>\n
In 1996, it will be 400 years since the first Dutch vessels
\ndropped anchor in Bantam Bay. The first voyage to the Indonesian
\narchipelago marked the beginning of a long period of mutual
\ninfluence not only in the economic domain, but also socially and
\nculturally.<\/p>\n
The close personal ties between inhabitants of the Netherlands
\nand the Dutch East Indies -- later to become Indonesia -- have
\nmade an especially important contribution to the good relations
\nbetween our two countries.<\/p>\n
Our Queen's state visit, which takes place shortly after Aug.
\n17, will doubtless be an important contribution to the further
\ndevelopment of our relations and it will serve to underscore the
\ndeep feelings of friendship between our two countries and
\npeoples.<\/p>\n
I hope that many more Dutch people will follow in the Queen's
\nfootsteps and visit your magnificent country and that many
\nIndonesians will visit our country in return.<\/p>\n
I have no hesitation in expressing my sincere hope that the
\nimpressive economic development that Indonesia is undergoing will
\ncontinue, that its fruits will contribute to the continuation of
\nsocial progress, that the citizens of your country will develop
\nfurther in prosperity and freedom, and that the ties of
\nfriendship between our two countries and peoples will become even
\ncloser.<\/p>\n
I would like to conclude by expressing my belief and my wish
\nthat these close ties will remain the foundation for close
\ncooperation in a spirit of equality, friendship and mutual
\nrespect.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/message-from-prime-minister-willem-kok-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}