Iraq war could be destabilizing: Hassan

Iraq war could be destabilizing: Hassan

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, has warned
that any unilateral act against Iraq would only provoke
destabilization in the immediate region and beyond.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly session in New York on
Wednesday, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirayuda
said that peaceful efforts should be fully utilized in addressing
the issue.

"Existing UN mechanisms should be fully utilized and, if need
be, strengthened," Hassan said in his speech, a copy of which was
made available to The Jakarta Post.

"Any unilateral use of force risks not only undermining the
authority of the UN but would also carry with it grave
implications, destabilizing the immediate region and indeed
beyond," he remarked.

The call was made as the U.S. tried to find ways to attack
Iraq, despite the latter's unconditional acceptance of the return
of UN weapons inspectors to the country.

Indonesia has repeatedly voiced its opposition against the use
of force against Iraq and urged the international community to
settle the issue through the UN Security Council.

"The situation in Iraq cannot be viewed in isolation. How we
address this problem will have repercussions on the longer-
standing issue of Palestine and the challenge of terrorism,"
Hassan added.

The minister, however, emphasized that, for its part, Iraq had
fully to comply with the relevant UN Security Council
resolutions.

"We are encouraged by the recent decision of the government of
Iraq to allow the return of UN inspectors," Hassan remarked.

In the speech, Hassan also tried to brush aside allegations
that Indonesia was not fully cooperating in the global war on
terrorism.

"In some international circles, Indonesia has been portrayed
as less than fully enthusiastic in the global fight against
terror on the basis of a mistaken perception that it is lenient
with radical Muslim groups," he said.

At the same time security officials in Jakarta claimed that
they had taken a number of steps in the fight against terrorism.
These included the arrest and deportation of a senior operative
of the al-Qaeda terrorist network in Southeast Asia.

The government also announced that it had started an
investigation into Indonesian Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir,
who had been accused by many countries as being a major terrorist
leader.

"We shall continue to provide protection of civilians from
terrorist acts that disrupt public order and cause widespread
suffering," the minister remarked.