RI regrets air strikes

JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs made the following statement on Thursday on the Iraqi situation:

"The government of Indonesia regrets the use of armed force against Iraq by the United States and Britain in implementing the UN Resolution on Mass Destructive Weapons, especially since they were carried out without prior consultations with the only international organization authorized to set such a policy, namely the United Nations Security Council."

"The government of Indonesia urges that the bombings against Iraq be stopped immediately and that the solution to the problem once again be pursued through negotiations and dialog.

"The government of Indonesia reiterates its appeal to the government of Iraq to comply with all the clauses contained in the relevant UN resolutions and in the agreements reached with the UN secretary-general," it said.