Koizumi urges peace in Aceh, offers help

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.