Bolger briefed on East Timor

Bolger briefed on East Timor

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto invited New Zealand
parliamentarians to visit East Timor, yesterday, to clear up some
misgivings they might have about Indonesia's policy in the former
Portuguese colony.

The invitation was extended through New Zealand Prime Minister
Jim Bolger during their meeting at the Merdeka Palace, State
Secretary Moerdiono told reporters yesterday.

"The President explained that Indonesia never had any
intentions of annexing East Timor. We simply accepted the wishes
of the East Timor people who wished to join with the republic. We
had to respect the strong desire of the East Timorese people in
choosing their own fate," Moerdiono said.

The East Timor question was raised by Bolger, who prior to
leaving Wellington, was under pressure from more than half of
parliament to press the issue with Soeharto.

"The President explained to the New Zealand prime minister
that there appeared to be some misunderstanding among the New
Zealand people (on East Timor) ... which is likely caused by
inaccurate information," Moerdiono said.

President Soeharto's invitation was intended "to allow the
parliamentarians to see for themselves the achievements made by
the province since its integration," Moerdiono said.

New Zealand, together with Australia, is one of the few
Western countries that recognizes the formal integration of East
Timor with Indonesia.

Indonesia has been fighting hard to gain international
recognition of East Timor's integration in 1976, but the fight
was often thwarted by charges of human rights abuses.

Bolger told a press conference later that he was surprised to
hear that his country's parliamentarians "fully understood the
details (of events in East Timor) in the degree or to the extent
that Foreign Minister Ali Alatas does."

And in a joint press statement, Bolger said he was encouraged
by steps Indonesia had taken in the implementation of agreed
confidence building measures during the talks with Lisbon on East
Timor earlier this month in Geneva.

Bolger expressed the hope that the Jakarta-Lisbon dialog would
lead to "a just, comprehensive and internationally acceptable
settlement to the question of East Timor."

Bilateral trade

Moerdiono said Soeharto and Bolger also discussed bilateral
trade relations and preparations for the upcoming leadership
meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum
planned in Jakarta in November.

At a banquet held in Bolger's honor last night, Soeharto
affirmed Indonesia's participation in the APEC programs created
at the first APEC leaders meeting in Seattle last year.

"We are sure that APEC will have a positive impact on the
welfare of nations in the region," he said.

On bilateral trade, President Soeharto said intense exchange
visits between top officials of the two countries over the last
few years have accounted for the growth in trade relations.

"But we are also aware the good relations are partly due to
New Zealand's participation in the Consultative Group on
Indonesia (CGI)," he said.

Last year, Wellington pledged $2.7 million in aid to Indonesia
through the CGI.

Bolger, at a luncheon meeting with New Zealand and Indonesian
business people at the Shangri-La hotel, encouraged further trade
relations between the two countries.

"Indonesia is a huge market for New Zealand. It is therefore
valuable both as a neighbor and as a business partner."

Cooperation

He said cooperation could increase considerably in fields such
as power, manufacturing industries and services, construction
engineering and information technology.

"We recognize Indonesia's importance in international matters
of consequence to New Zealand...but we also hope that Indonesian
business people should not underestimate the potential for
economic links with New Zealand," Bolger said.

Non-oil exports from Indonesia to New Zealand rose by 29
percent from $34.83 million in 1992 to $44.97 million last year.
Oil and gas exports grew by more than five fold from $2.57
million to $16.33 million.

Trade between the two has resulted in an increasing surplus
for New Zealand, from $37.84 million in 1990 to $89.81 million in
1991, $98.50 million in 1992, and $88.13 million as of October
last year.

New Zealand stands 31st on Indonesia's list of foreign
investors with seven committed projects valued at US$23.2
million. So far, however, only one project worth $10.06 million
has started operations.

The prime minister, accompanied by his wife Joan, and a
delegation of 25 people including top officials of his
government, arrived in Yogyakarta on Sunday. They are scheduled
to visit President Soeharto's Tri S Tapos ranch and the Bogor
Palace today before ending their visit. (pwn)