Indonesia impartial on Iraq-Kuwait rift

Indonesia impartial on Iraq-Kuwait rift

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia has affirmed its impartiality and
willingness to listen to the positions of both Kuwait and Iraq in
their on-going dispute, but has reiterated its desire to see a
lessening of United Nations' sanctions against Baghdad.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas yesterday stated that
Indonesia, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council,
would be sensitive to arguments either to increase or lessen the
1990 embargo on Iraq, imposed after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait
in the same year.

"We always try to maintain a balanced position," Alatas said
following a meeting with visiting Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister,
Sulaiman M. Al-Shaheen, yesterday morning.

However Alatas said that if Iraq abided by UN resolutions then
Indonesia would explore the possibility of reducing the imposed
sanctions.

Al-Shaheen was here to convey a letter from Kuwaiti foreign
minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah in which the sheikh
appeals for Indonesia's support when the sanctions come under
review in March.

Al-Shaheen's trip is part of an aggressive campaign by the
Kuwaiti government to garner support for maintaining of strict
sanctions against Baghdad.

Kuwaiti foreign minister Sheikh al-Sabah will himself be
embarking on a 12-country tour, including Britain, France and
Italy, for the same purpose.

Permanent Security Council members, such as France, have
stated their inclination to soften the crippling sanctions which
include an embargo on Iraqi oil exports.

During a visit here by Iraqi foreign minister Mohammad Said
al-Sahaf in April, Indonesia pledged its support in alleviating
the sanctions and said it would pursue the matter through the
Non-Aligned Movement's UN caucus in New York.

Indonesia is currently chair of the 111-nation Non-Aligned
Movement, which includes both Kuwait and Iraq as members.

According to Al-Shaheen, even though Iraq has recognized
Kuwait's sovereignty, it has yet to release some 625 Kuwaiti
prisoners captured during the war, Alatas said yesterday.

Speaking to journalists at the Kuwaiti embassy here yesterday
afternoon, Al-Shaheen said that information on the number of
prisoners still detained came from the International Commission
of the Red Cross.

"Kuwait regards the issue of prisoners as one of humanity.
Iraq is using them as a tool of political coercion," he said.

Another matter that is still unresolved is the question of
property taken during Iraq's occupation of Kuwait. This includes
priceless books and documents stolen from Kuwaiti libraries, says
Al-Shaheen.

Al-Shaheen also condemned Baghdad's human rights record and
accused Iraq of possessing weapons of mass destruction which it
has not disclosed.

When asked about the results of his meetings here, Al-Shaheen
said that Alatas had given a "positive" response.

He praised Indonesia for taking a firm stand condemning Iraq's
invasion of Kuwait and again called for support in ensuring that
Iraq fully complies with the UN sanctions.

Alatas has stressed that Indonesia will continue to pursue the
possibility of reducing the sanctions but denied that Jakarta's
stance would cause friction with either Iraq or Kuwait.

"Indonesia will put Indonesia's position," Alatas said in
reply to a suggestion that Jakarta would be representing the
position of either Iraq or Kuwait's.(mds)