No plans to sever ties with Vanuatu: Minister
No plans to sever ties with Vanuatu: Minister
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The government denied over the weekend reports that it would
sever diplomatic ties with Vanuatu in reaction to the possible
opening of the first embassy of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) in
the pacific country.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Friday
that Vanuatu had never officially said that it would allow the
Papuan secessionist group to open an embassy in the country.
"Vanuatu has no plans to host the first embassy of Papuan
rebels; it is not the policy of the pacific country's
government," Hassan said at a media briefing.
"We were shocked to hear reports saying that we want to sever
ties with Vanuatu when we are still trying to use diplomatic
channels to deal with the problem," he remarked.
Hassan was commenting on news reports in the past view days
saying that Jakarta would end its ties with Vanuatu after the
tiny pacific country hinted at allowing Papuan rebels to open an
embassy there.
Acting Indonesian Ambassador to Australia Imron Cotan was
quoted by Antara as saying last week that he had conveyed
Indonesia's message (to cut diplomatic ties) to Vanuatu Prime
Minister Edward Nipake Natapei during a meeting in mid-January.
"We are mandated to deliver Indonesia's position over the plan
to open what they say is the first Papuan embassy in the world,"
Imron was quoted as saying.
Pacific Island Forum member countries declared that they would
support the territorial integrity of Indonesia and did not
recognize the OPM.
Hassan urged Vanuatu earlier to abide by the declaration and
not provide the opportunity for Papuan rebels to enjoy such
foreign support.
OPM has been waging a low-level independence war against
Jakarta since the 1970s.
The government has repeatedly expressed its concern over
efforts by OPM to obtain diplomatic recognition from foreign
countries.
Hassan said that Jakarta was currently arranging a visit for
Natapei or the Vanuatu foreign affairs minister to travel to
Indonesia in the near future.
The minister emphasized that Jakarta remained confident that
there was strong support from the Pacific countries with regard
to maintaining Indonesia's territorial integrity.