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.