Annan, Mega to discuss global issues

Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan will meet President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Friday to discuss global issues before heading to East Timor for the independence celebration in the capital of Dili, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda on Thursday.

The Indonesian government hailed Annan's visit, but Hassan stopped short of saying that President Megawati and the UN secretary-general would specifically discuss the East Timor issue.

"The meeting will be an exchange of views on the development of global issues. We appreciate his stopover in Jakarta before departing to Dili," Hassan told reporters before attending the Cabinet meeting chaired by President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Indonesia, however, would ask for an explanation from Annan regarding the UN secretary general's decision to abort sending a fact-finding team to probe human rights abuses committed by Israel in Palestine.

"Kofi Annan canceled the fact-finding team. We will bring up this matter as we (Indonesia) are in agreement with the UN Security Council's resolution to send a fact-finding team," Hassan told reporters.

In the meeting with the UN secretary-general, Indonesia will reiterate its stance on the Middle East conflict of assisting Palestine politically and economically, he said.

He added that Indonesia would also discuss ways of assisting Palestine economically as discussed earlier with other countries during his recent trip to the Middle East, to help ease poverty in the area.

The fact-finding team, which was named by Annan to probe human rights abuses at the Jenin camp in Palestine, was canceled after Israel objected to its composition and refused to allow the team to enter the camp grounds if their concerns were not addressed.

Annan will arrive in Jakarta on Friday and is scheduled to have lunch with President Megawati Soekarnoputri at the State Palace after which he will hold talks with Megawati and several Cabinet ministers to be followed by the issuing of a joint statement.

On Saturday, he will meet Hassan before departing to Dili.

Hassan also denied speculation on Thursday that Annan would ask about Indonesia's efforts in unearthing cases of human rights abuses.