Japan offers to help find peaceful solution to problem in Aceh

Agencies, Jakarta

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told visiting Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri that Tokyo was ready to help find a peaceful solution to end the decades-long conflict in Aceh.

In the meeting with Megawati on Tuesday, Koizumi underlined that dialog remained the best solution to end the separatist movement in the province.

"A peaceful solution through dialogue is the best way to resolve the conflict," Koizumi said after meeting with Megawati, as quoted by Agence France-Presse.

"The resumption of dialogue between the two parties can reach a political settlement based on special autonomy as the final solution," he noted, adding that Japan was willing to host further meetings between the two sides.

Megawati, who thanked Tokyo for its continued support, said the "door to the dialogue remains open and they hoped that a peaceful solution can be found."

When speaking at the Japan National Press Club the day before, Megawati said she was still hoping for a negotiated settlement to the problems in Aceh, but it must be under the unitary state of Indonesia.

"We are holding out hope for a peaceful resolution through dialog .... But the Constitution makes clear that Indonesia is a unitary state and it is unacceptable that any people should aim for an arrangement contrary to that," she said at the press club.

The Indonesian President, on a four-day state visit to Japan, faced questions from the Japanese community regarding her decision to launch the military offensive against rebels in Aceh.

Japan hosted the last peace talks between the Indonesian government and the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) last month, which failed.

A few hours after the meeting collapsed, Megawati imposed martial law in the province in a bid to crush the separatist movement.

Japan, which fully acknowledges Indonesia's territorial integrity, has repeatedly expressed concern over the breakdown of peace talks and asked for the resumption of talks.

Last year, Japan also assembled representatives from more than 20 countries and international financial institutions for a post- war rehabilitation and reconstruction meeting for Aceh.

Aside from the Aceh issue, Megawati and Koizumi also discussed the escalating nuclear crisis on the Korean peninsula, in which the two leaders expressed concern over the crisis, which was threatening to damage stability and peace in Asia.

The crisis is a major threat to Japanese security.

Megawati, who has good relations with the Pyongyang leaders, promised to cooperate with Japan to help defuse the nuclear crisis.

"Traditionally we have a long history of good relations with North Korea but nuclear (technology) should bring benefits to the people," Megawati told Koizumi during their meeting, according to an official who attended the meeting.

"I would like to cooperate with you to resolve the problem peacefully," she said.

On the trade front, government officials from both sides will begin exploring an economic partnership and establish a panel to discuss the details.

"I would like to make an effort to sign our economic partnership agreement," Koizumi told the Indonesian leader.

The President will end her visit to Japan on Wednesday when she is scheduled to leave for Vietnam, the last leg of her 10-day overseas trip.

In Vietnam, the President is slated to witness the signing of a continental shelves agreement over sea boundaries in the South China Sea and a coffee regulation agreement.

The President is scheduled to return to Jakarta on Friday.