Awad denies criticizing Abdurrahman

JAKARTA (JP): Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia Ribbhi Awad denied on Friday that he had criticized President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid's stance over the Middle East crisis.

The purported criticism, widely reported in the press on Wednesday, prompted Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab to demand that the ambassador, who has represented his country in Indonesia since 1992, be replaced.

Alwi told reporters in Seoul, where he was accompanying the President to the Asia-European summit, that he would write to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to send a new ambassador.

"It was a misinterpretation. Somebody misinterpreted it," Awad said after he and Palestinian Parliament Speaker Saleem Al- Za'noon met House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung.

Asked whether he would visit Abdurrahman to give a clarification, Awad said: "God willing."

Al-Za'noon also denied that he had criticized Abdurrahman, saying the President had expressed his full support of the Palestinians' aspiration to regain their homeland.

"It's impossible for me to criticize President Wahid for his membership in Shimon Peres foundation since President (Yasser) Arafat also supports the foundation," said Al-Za'noon, who led the Palestinian delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) conference which wound up in Jakarta on Friday.

He said he appreciated Indonesia's role in co-sponsoring an IPU resolution this week condemning the recent outbreak of violence in Palestine.

Al-Za'noon then recited an Arabic poem praising Abdurrahman's stance and leadership. "President Wahid considers Awad his brother. It's impossible to criticize him," he said.

Indonesian press reports said on Thursday that Za'noon, during a meeting with People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais, expressed his disappointment with the Indonesian government for failing to support the Palestinians during the recent violent clashes with Israel.

Al-Za'noon, who was accompanied by Awad during the meeting, also reportedly criticized Abdurrahman's refusal to withdraw his membership from the peace foundation.

Amien Rais, however, confirmed to reporters on Friday the allegations as reported in the press.

"That's the Arabic style of diplomacy. Always changing," he said referring to Awad's claim of misrepresentation.

Amien nevertheless deplored Abdurrahman's threat to deport Awad, saying that it could ruin Indonesia-Palestine relations. (jun)