Indonesian government may allow foreign diplomats to visit Aceh

Ivy Susanti, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian government will review the visa procedures for foreign diplomats to facilitate their travel to Indonesia, particularly Aceh, foreign affairs minister Hassan Wirayuda said on Thursday.

Hassan was commenting on an appeal by the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the European Union (EU).

In a meeting on Oct. 11, the council asked Indonesia's new President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, to allow non-governmental organizations normal access to Aceh and to consider the possibility of field visits by diplomats.

"We are reviewing the possibility of making the visa procedures easier," Hassan said after a meeting with an EU mission.

The EU mission was led by Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot, who is also the president of the EU's Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers. He was accompanied by representatives from Luxembourg, which will take over the EU presidency next year, and the European Commission.

Bot said during a brief joint press briefing that he had asked his Indonesian counterpart to facilitate visits by foreign diplomats to Aceh and Papua.

"Indonesia said it is examining our request," he said.

Bot met with Susilo in the morning and Hassan in the afternoon. Only four questions from journalists were entertained during the press briefing, as the foreign guests had to make their way through Jakarta's traffic to catch their plane back to Europe on Thursday.

Bot and Hassan agreed to hold regular ministerial meetings alternately in Indonesia (Jakarta) and Europe (Brussels).

"This new format reflects the agreement on both sides to strengthen Indonesia-EU relations," said Hassan.

Bot also reiterated the EU's pledge to support Indonesia's reform process, and the EU's commitment to Indonesia's territorial integrity.

"The EU expresses new confidence in the new government," Bot said.