Palestinian envoy meets with Alatas

JAKARTA (JP): Special envoy for the Palestinian executive committee, Asaad Abdulrahman, met with Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas yesterday for an exchange of views and garner Jakarta's support for the Palestinian cause.

Abdulrahman expressed his gratitude for Indonesia's unwavering position on the Middle East crisis, including Jakarta's refusal to open diplomatic ties with Israel.

"We couldn't agree more on any issue on the discussion," he said of his hour-long meeting with Alatas whom he described as a "great friend" of Palestine.

Abdulrahman is on a mission to several Southeast Asian and Gulf nations to obtain diplomatic support amid the impasse in the Middle East peace talks. Abdulrahman leaves for Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia today. (mds)