Alatas, Mierlo discuss human rights questions
Alatas, Mierlo discuss human rights questions
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali
Alatas and his Dutch counterpart Hans van Mierlo discussed human
rights during their meeting on Monday, according to a joint
statement issued by the two ministers yesterday.
"In the course of consultations the two ministers not only
exchanged ideas on issues of a global dimension, but also
thoroughly discussed the present bilateral Indonesia-Netherlands
relations, including issues of human rights," the statement read
without elaborating further.
Mierlo is accompanying Queen Beatrix, who arrived on Monday
for an 11-day visit to Indonesia.
The two ministers also discussed ways to broaden their
economic, scientific and cultural relations with special emphasis
on the development of the younger generation as an investment in
future relations, the statement read.
Queen Beatrix in her address in front of President Soeharto on
Monday maintained that issues of basic rights and values are a
natural element in Dutch-Indonesian dialog.
Warnings
Her assertion was accompanied by warnings in Soeharto's speech
that state relations should be based on non-interference in
domestic matters.
Perceiving Dutch interference, Indonesia in 1992 rejected all
aid from the Netherlands and dissolved the Dutch-led Inter
Governmental Group on Indonesia, a 17-country aid consortium.
At the opening of the Jakarta Meeting of the Indonesia-
Netherlands Association (INA) yesterday, Alatas described the
1992 events as "the final episode in the process of Indonesia's
economic decolonization."
To better forge relations, Alatas pointed to the benefits of
people-to-people contact, similar to the course pursued by the
INA.
"Such people-to-people contact may also prove to be one
effective way of dealing not only with old political
sensitivities, but also issues that have in recent times
enlivened global discourse, such as human rights," he explained.
On the economic front, Indonesian Minister of Mines and Energy
I.B. Sudjana and Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs G.J. Wijers
yesterday signed a declaration for joint cooperation in the field
of energy.
The declaration is aimed at facilitating the formulation of
energy-related policies and cooperation for the future.
Separately, the Dutch Director for Economic Affairs, Frans
Engering, told The Jakarta Post yesterday that a financial
program announced here on Monday to aid Dutch companies dealing
with Indonesia should not be interpreted as a resumption of aid
to the government here as previously reported.
"It is a trade instrument but has nothing to do with
developmental cooperation," he said.
Engering explained that unlike other countries, until now the
Netherlands has had no export financial system. This program is
therefore aimed at helping Dutch exporters of capital goods and
construction companies compete with other foreign firms doing
business here.
While ministers from both countries were engaged in various
discussions, Queen Beatrix yesterday toured the Indonesian
Products Exhibition.
Wearing a brown silk batik skirt, she showed genuine interest
in the products exhibited, particularly in a stand displaying
woven cloth from East Kalimantan.
She purchased some and the stand owner asked for a photo with
the Dutch monarch in return.
Today, Beatrix will depart for Surabaya, East Java, where she
will stay before continuing to Yogyakarta tomorrow. (mds)
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