Mediator hopeful for next Aceh talks

Mediator hopeful for next Aceh talks

Former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari, mediator in peace talks between the Indonesian government and separatist Aceh province rebels, said Thursday he hoped dialogue would soon resume.

"The spirit that people approach this with, I hope bodes well for the next round (of talks)," Ahtisaari said in an interview with AFP.

The former UN under-secretary general and career diplomat last weekend mediated the first peace talks between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh movement (GAM) in nearly two years since a truce between them broke down in May 2003 and the Indonesian army launched an offensive to end the insurgency.

The core issue of the talks will be whether GAM wants to become part of the civilian political process in Aceh, or continue its drawn-out armed conflict and possibly be sidelined by other groups in the province.

"The train is moving. The question is if we can stop it so a new group (GAM) can join the train, but they have to come to this conclusion themselves," he said.

"Also think of the consequences, every leader of this sort of movement has an enormous responsibility. I don't envy them, and I told them so," he noted.

"The past history is a difficult one, and if we fail I am afraid that the future will be not that rosy either," Ahtisaari said.

The next meeting will be "decisive", he added, pointing out that it will likely give a clear indication where the negotiations are heading. -- AFP