Development on Korean encouraging
Development on Korean encouraging
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto in his capacity as chairman
of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) said yesterday that he was
greatly encouraged by the decision of North and South Korea to
hold a summit in an effort to end their nuclear dispute.
"The President views this decision as a very positive
development," Nana Sutresna, the chief assistant for the NAM
chairman, said after meeting with Soeharto yesterday.
Indonesia is also encouraged by the plan to reopen talks
between the United States and North Korea and highly appreciates
the personal efforts of former U.S. president Jimmy Carter during
his visit to the region to seek ways to end the nuclear dispute,
Nana said.
Indonesia, in its capacity as NAM leader, has taken various
steps to bring an end to the nuclear crisis, Nana said.
It has repeatedly emphasized the need for all parties involved
"to exercise restraint and avoid creating situation which may
disturb the region's peace and stability."
Indonesia has maintained a neutral position in the Korean
conflict, maintaining contacts with both Pyongyang and Seoul.
North Korea is an NAM colleague while South Korea is one of
Indonesia's major trading partners.
According to the statement by Soeharto yesterday, Indonesia
believes that North and South Korea have laid the basis for
solving the dispute peacefully rather than by force when they
agreed to hold the summit.
He said Indonesia and the NAM ministerial meeting in Cairo
endorsed the three separate peace talks -- between the U.S. and
North Korea, South Korea and North Korea and North Korea and the
International Atomic Energy Agency -- as a means to end the
dispute once and for all.
North Korean President Kim Il-sung earlier sent an envoy to
Jakarta to brief President Soeharto on the situation from the
viewpoint of North Korea. Soeharto also sent an envoy to
Pyongyang to review the situation, according to Nana.
"Based on these visits, the President has been able to
conclude that all parties involved are actually eager to end the
problem through peaceful negotiations," Nana said.
He said Soeharto also hoped the positive directions recently
taken could lead to mutual agreements.
"A climate of distrust between the two Koreas which has
carried on for more than 40 years since the end of the Korean War
is perhaps the biggest barrier towards a normal relationship,"
Nana said, adding that any efforts to dismantle such a climate
would need much time and comprehensive approaches.(pwn)