Message from Prime Minister Willem Kok

Message from Prime Minister Willem Kok

This year 1995 is the 50th anniversary of the Republic of
Indonesia's declaration of independence.

Let me therefore take this opportunity to offer President
Soeharto and the Indonesian people my sincere congratulations on
reaching this milestone.

This important occasion is receiving a great deal of attention
in the Netherlands, both in the media as through exhibitions,
seminars and cultural events.

The declaration of independence -- 50 years ago -- was the
beginning of a new era in our history and in the relations
between our two countries and peoples.

The struggle after the declaration of independence generated a
desire to pursue a process of gradual decolonization, to put the
colonial past behind us, and to allow Indonesia to take its
rightful place among the independent countries of the world.

Agreements were concluded to this end, but the differences of
opinion on how they were to be put into effect proved to be huge.

As a result, the parting of the ways between our two countries
became a process that was deeply painful and marked by bitter
struggle.

Many lives were lost on both sides, and many suffered lasting
injury.

It is deeply tragic that the transition to actual independence
should have caused so much pain, ill feeling and unbearable
suffering.

At the end our two countries eventually came together as
equals to give new meaning to age old ties; ties that go back to
the first contacts between our two peoples.

In 1996, it will be 400 years since the first Dutch vessels
dropped anchor in Bantam Bay. The first voyage to the Indonesian
archipelago marked the beginning of a long period of mutual
influence not only in the economic domain, but also socially and
culturally.

The close personal ties between inhabitants of the Netherlands
and the Dutch East Indies -- later to become Indonesia -- have
made an especially important contribution to the good relations
between our two countries.

Our Queen's state visit, which takes place shortly after Aug.
17, will doubtless be an important contribution to the further
development of our relations and it will serve to underscore the
deep feelings of friendship between our two countries and
peoples.

I hope that many more Dutch people will follow in the Queen's
footsteps and visit your magnificent country and that many
Indonesians will visit our country in return.

I have no hesitation in expressing my sincere hope that the
impressive economic development that Indonesia is undergoing will
continue, that its fruits will contribute to the continuation of
social progress, that the citizens of your country will develop
further in prosperity and freedom, and that the ties of
friendship between our two countries and peoples will become even
closer.

I would like to conclude by expressing my belief and my wish
that these close ties will remain the foundation for close
cooperation in a spirit of equality, friendship and mutual
respect.