RI cheers Mandela's election

JAKARTA (JP): The government yesterday warmly greeted the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as South Africa's first black President.

Mandela's election victory was the result of the South African people's struggle in their fight against apartheid, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

"Mandela's victory as South African president through the first ever non-racial election is not just a historic occasion, but an event anticipated by the international community."

Indonesia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas was on hand in Pretoria to attend yesterday's inauguration in place of President Soeharto. During his South African sojourn, Alatas met with Mandela and handed him an invitation to visit Indonesia in the near future.

In his inaugural address on Monday, Mandela made a special mention of Indonesia, of what he called "patriots" from Indonesia some 300 years ago arriving to the Cape of Good Hope to begin the fateful convergence of the peoples of Africa, Europe and Asia.

"It was to this peninsula that the patriots, among them many princes and scholars, of Indonesia were dragged in chains. It was on the sandy plains of this peninsula that the first battles of the epic wars of resistance were fought," Mandela said.

Indonesia sent 15 observers and donated money to help ensure the smooth running of the elections there.

Indonesia has stated its commitment to upgrade its liaison office in Johannesburg to a full embassy after the establishment of the new government.

Minister Alatas has also indicated that an Indonesian consulate will be set up in Cape Town. (mds)