RI offers alternative peace plan<\/p>\n
By Rikza Abdullah<\/p>\n
ZAGREB (JP): Indonesia is proposing an alternative mechanism
\nto bring about a peaceful settlement to the ethnic wars raging in
\nthe former Yugoslavia.<\/p>\n
The mechanism, outlined by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali
\nAlatas here on Monday, follows the format that Indonesia
\nsuccessfully used to help end the civil war in Cambodia in 1991.<\/p>\n
It calls for meetings in two phases: initially involving the
\nwarring factions, and later an international conference involving
\nthe big powers.<\/p>\n
Soeharto yesterday flew back to Jakarta at the conclusion of
\nhis three-day visit to Croatia which included the brief stop in
\nembattled Sarajevo. The President, who earlier took part in the
\nWorld Conference on Social Development in Copenhagen, is
\nscheduled to land in Jakarta this morning.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian peace plan for former Yugoslavia was conveyed
\nby President Soeharto during meetings with Croatian leaders and
\nwith Bosnian leaders during his four-hour visit to Sarajevo on
\nMonday, Alatas told reporters.<\/p>\n
Alatas stressed that Indonesia's role would strictly be in
\nfacilitating the meetings. It would not become a mediator.<\/p>\n
The point was hammered home once more by Soeharto during a
\nbanquet given in his honor on Monday night by Croatian President
\nFranjo Tudjman.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said that as chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement, he
\nwas urging the establishment of a new mechanism of negotiations
\namong all parties involved in the conflicts to find comprehensive
\nand permanent solutions. "The new mechanism includes the
\npossibility of holding an international conference, the structure
\nof which is adjusted to the needs required for the achievement of
\na fair and comprehensive solution," he said.<\/p>\n
Elaborating on the proposal, Alatas said Indonesia, if
\nrequested, will host the negotiations and send envoys to the
\nwarring parties and provide other necessary facilities.<\/p>\n
Facilitator<\/p>\n
"But I want to emphasize that Indonesia is ready to act only
\nas a facilitator, not as a mediator in the conflict."<\/p>\n
The first stage of the meeting should involve the leaders of
\nall the former Yugoslav republics: Serbia-Montenegro, Croatia,
\nSlovenia, Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.<\/p>\n
They should discuss basic principles like peaceful coexistence
\nand non-intervention in the other's domestic affairs, mutual
\nrecognition, and acceptance of internationally recognized
\nborders, he said. Problems related to the rights of minorities
\nshould also be addressed, he added.<\/p>\n
"When all these problems are resolved, we can go on to the
\nnext stage -- holding an international conference involving the
\nfive permanent members of the United Nations Security Council
\n(China, Britain, the United States, Russia and France), countries
\nneighboring the former Yugoslavian states, and countries that can
\ncontribute to the settlement."<\/p>\n
"If they can accept these ideas, Indonesia will be ready to
\nact as facilitator for such negotiations," Alatas said. "However,
\nIndonesia will not impose these ideas on them."<\/p>\n
Alatas was one of the architects of the Cambodian peace
\nprocess which began in 1988 with the convening of an informal
\nmeeting of all Cambodian warring factions in Bogor near Jakarta.
\nThat meeting set the ball rolling and led to the international
\npeace conference on Cambodia in Paris three years later.<\/p>\n
Alatas said Indonesia feels obliged to propose solutions
\nbecause the conflicts are still intense and cease-fires are
\nfragile despite the presence of the UN peace missions and various
\nresolutions by the United Nations and despite various proposals
\nby the Security Council to end the war.<\/p>\n
"If our ideas are not accepted, we will continue supporting
\nBosnia in its struggle against expansionism and supporting the
\nproposals of the permanent members of the UN Security Council as
\nlong as they also support Bosnia."<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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