No ties with Israel: Soeharto tells Syrians
No ties with Israel: Soeharto tells Syrians
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will not establish diplomatic ties
with Israel as long as there is no comprehensive and just
solution to the disputes between Arab countries and Israel,
President Soeharto said yesterday.
Soeharto declared Indonesia's consistency on this policy in
his address at last night's banquet to honor visiting Syrian
Prime Minister Mahmoud Al-Zoubi.
Soeharto said Israel's occupation of Arab territories was
illegitimate, and that Indonesia regarded it as a new form of
colonialism and racism.
"For Indonesia, a just, eternal and comprehensive solution on
Arab-Israel can only be reached by the full implementation of the
UN Security Council's resolutions," President Soeharto said.
He said Israel should return occupied Arab territories, such
as Syria's Golan Heights, Southern Lebanon, Gaza and the West
Bank.
"The legitimate rights of Palestinian people for self-
determination and the state of their motherland must also be
recognized," Soeharto said.
Syrian Prime Minister Mahmoud Al-Zoubi and his entourage
arrived here yesterday for a five-day visit to strengthen
bilateral trade and cultural relations.
This morning the two heads of government are expected to hold
bilateral talks on regional and international affairs, including
developments in the Middle East.
"The two leaders agreed to boost trade and economic relations
between the two countries," Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono
said after he and Soeharto had received the prime minister in a
courtesy call.
In his speech last night, Soeharto recalled how Syria in 1947
became the third country to recognize Indonesia's independence
which was proclaimed in 1945.
"The United Nations Security Council, chaired by Syrian
statesman Fairs Al-Car, had issued a resolution which ordered the
Dutch to stop its military aggression against Indonesia,"
Soeharto said.
This morning, after a scheduled 90-minute meeting, the two
leaders will witness the signing of three bilateral Memorandum of
Understandings (MOU) and one agreement.
Foreign Minister Ali Alatas and his counterpart Minister of
State for Foreign Affairs Nasser Qaddour will sign the MOUs on
the establishment of bilateral consultation, information
cooperation and tourism cooperation.
They will also sign an agreement to promote and protect
investment, and an arrangement for cultural exchange programs for
three years.
Indonesia's non-oil exports to Syria in 1996 were worth
US$33.29 million, while its non-oil imports were worth US$14.25
million.
Prime Minister Mahmoud Al-Zoubi will leave Bali Monday for
Damascus. (06)