EU urges peace in RI

EU urges peace in RI

BRUSSELS (AFP): The European Union encouraged Indonesia on Monday to "resolve peacefully" its many internal conflicts, in a statement adopted by EU foreign ministers that also called for closer European ties with Southeast Asia's biggest nation.

Underlining what it called "the strategic importance of a strong, democratic, united and prosperous Indonesia," the 15- nation club of rich European states "expressed concern" at developments in the country.

It urged Jakarta to press ahead with "governance reform" and strengthening democracy and human rights, saying that the rule of law and democratic accountability by the police and army were "crucial" for stability.

It encouraged the government "to make further urgent efforts to address and resolve peacefully Indonesia's internal conflicts, whether separatist or sectarian in character, such as those in Aceh, Irian Jaya, the Malukus and Central Kalimantan."

"The only viable way to guarantee the territorial integrity of Indonesia is for the government to engage in a genuine dialogue with the provinces in order to tackle the root causes of separatism," said the statement.

It urged Jakarta to improve relations with East Timor, while recalling its responsibility "to prosecute those who have violated human rights and international humanitarian law."