Koizumi urges peace in Aceh, offers help
The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi reiterated here his government's readiness to help the Indonesian government to end the war between Jakarta and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and to find a sustainable and peaceful settlement in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam province.
The Prime Minister emphasized that Japan fully supported the Indonesia's territorial unity, including in Aceh. He also expressed his strong sympathies to President Megawati Soekarnoputri who is facing great difficulties in maintaining the country's sovereignty due to the huge size of the archipelagic state.
He described the President's problem as "a mind boggling one".
"With regard to Aceh, we certainly hope in the first place for a peaceful resolution. Indonesia is a country which comprises numerous islands. It is needless to say the efforts to maintain the territorial integrity must be mind boggling. But I believe the Aceh situation can be restored peacefully while respecting the territorial integrity of Indonesia," Koizumi said in a response to the question by The Jakarta Post in a press conference here on Wednesday.
Along with the United States and the World Bank, Japan cohosted the second Tokyo conference on the reconstruction of Aceh, shortly before the government declared martial law in the province and launched a full military assault.
Meanwhile, Koizumi also said his government was prepared to provide assistance to Indonesia in organizing next year's general elections to strengthen the country's democratization and in order to strengthen consolidation and stability for people.
"I am sure it is very important, and I would like to consider what Japan can do in order to support the general elections as well. We would like to strengthen our cooperation with Indonesia," said the Prime Minister in a press conference after attending the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit with China, Japan and South Korea.
Talking about China's rapidly growing influence in Asia, the Prime Minister played down the negative impact of the trend toward Japan's domination in the region. "China's remarkable growth is not a threat but an opportunity to Japan as well."
Koizumi also expressed his country's concern about the Korean Peninsula situation and repeated Japan's stance that the nuclear crisis should be settled peacefully.
The Prime Minister also disclosed that the 10 ASEAN leaders present at the summit had reaffirmed that they would attend the ASEAN-Japan Summit to commemorate the 30-year relationship between Japan and the regional grouping in mid-December. He did not mention Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir who will retire from his post and be replaced by the incumbent Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
"The Tokyo summit will be meaningful and significant. We would like to share with the leaders of ASEAN the future relationship between Japan and ASEAN," said Koizumi about the summit.
The Prime Minister returned to Tokyo on Wednesday night.