Dutch foreign minister here on two-day visit

Dutch foreign minister here on two-day visit

JAKARTA (JP): Dutch foreign minister Jozias Van Aartsen
arrived here for a two-day visit on Sunday evening to acquaint
himself with Indonesia's new Cabinet and to seek clarification on
the ongoing violence in Maluku.

"The visit is to get acquainted with the new government and
discuss what will be the future of the relationship of the two
countries," Anne Van Leeuwen, the first secretary for press and
cultural affairs of the Dutch Embassy here, said earlier this
week.

Van Aartsen will meet Indonesian foreign minister Alwi Shihab
on Monday morning and later with Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri. On Tuesday afternoon Van Aartsen will also meet
with President Abdurrahman Wahid.

Other officials whom he is due to meet are Coordinating
Minister for Political Affairs and Security Gen. Wiranto,
Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono, Attorney General Marzuki
Darusman, People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais and
House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung.

"In those meetings, minister Jozias will also have a
discussion about the situation in Maluku province, which concerns
many parties in the Netherlands," Anne said.

As Indonesia's former colonial ruler, the Netherlands
continues to have a vested, if not historical, interest in
developments here.

Large numbers of supporters of the separatist South Maluku
Republic (RMS) rebellion fled to Holland after their uprising was
crushed in the 1960s and 1970s.

Before he leaves Jakarta, Van Aartsen will pay homage to
deceased Dutch soldiers buried at the Menteng Pulo Cemetery in
Central Jakarta. (04)