NAM ministers discuss Palestine and Bosnia
NAM ministers discuss Palestine and Bosnia
By Santi WE Soekanto
BANDUNG (JP): Ministers of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
yesterday tackled sensitive international political issues,
concentrating on the peace process in Palestine and Bosnia
Herzegovina.
In addition to the main plenary sessions, two separate
meetings were held yesterday to discuss the issues of Bosnia
Herzegovina and Israeli occupation in Palestine.
Delegates of the 112-member group of countries are in Bandung,
180-kilometers south of Jakarta, for a three-day Ministerial
Meeting of the NAM Coordinating Bureau.
Palestine's Foreign Affairs Minister Farouk Qaddoumi briefed
the meeting on the current situation in the occupied Palestinian
territory, including Jerusalem, and also on the latest
developments in the ongoing peace process in the Middle East.
Consisting of representatives of Algeria, Bangladesh, Cuba,
India, Palestine, Senegal and Zimbabwe, the committee issued a
strong statement regarding the conditions in the territory.
The ministers said that "international action is immediately
needed to protect the Palestinians under occupation against the
violations by Israel of the provisions of the Fourth Geneva
Convention and the principles and objectives of the international
humanitarian law".
The ministers called upon the UN Security Council to take
immediate action and measures to provide such protection in
accordance with its resolutions 681 (90) and 904 (94).
On the peace process, the ministers "regretted and expressed
their concern that, after more than three years, the peace
process in the territory has not yet achieved positive and
concrete results".
"The ministers are of the opinion that Israel should withdraw
its forces from the occupied Palestinian territory including
Jerusalem," according to an official statement issued by the
group.
They called for a more active involvement of the UN and the
international community, particularly the developed countries, to
contribute to the reconstruction and development of Palestine.
Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Alatas said after the
meeting yesterday that the ministers wished to remind the UN that
it has a continuing responsibility to find solutions.
On the question of Bosnia, the ministers discussed the current
cease-fire which will end on May 1.
Although Bosnia is not yet a member of NAM, the meeting
decided to invite Bosnian Foreign Affairs Minister Irfan
Ljubijankic to explain his views on the issue.
Indonesia again offered to facilitate and explore alternative
solutions to the conflicts.
The two main sessions yesterday completed discussions on the
NAM campaign for the restructuring, revitalization and
democratization of the United Nations Security Council. Another
meeting was held last night to discuss the nuclear Non-
proliferation Treaty.
Alatas said that discussions also focused on the latest
developments in Burundi, Somalia, Afghanistan and a number of
other countries.
Today the ministers will discuss the preparations for the
transfer of leadership of the movement at the coming summit in
Cartagena, in October, to host Colombia.
On the sidelines, Indonesia yesterday held bilateral talks
with representatives of Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Mozambique and Sierra
Leone. The latter two countries have asked Indonesia and the
other NAM members for greater economic assistance and other
support.
Alatas specifically expressed Indonesia's regret over the
violations of a cease-fire in Sri Lanka by the Liberation Tigers
of Tamil Eelam secessionists and the outbreak of fresh armed
conflicts there.
"We support Sri Lanka's government, which has shown its
goodwill in its efforts to resolve the conflict," Alatas said.