RI regrets NATO bombing

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia expressed regret on Thursday at the overnight air strike by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on Yugoslavia, urging parties to settle the Kosovo crisis through negotiations.

"The Indonesian government regrets that efforts to resolve the Kosovo problem have come to the point whereby NATO is bombing the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Indonesia has "from the beginning, hoped that the problem be resolved through negotiations rather than the use of force".

"The Indonesian government appeals to everyone concerned, including the conflicting parties, to refrain from using force, to return to the negotiating table to find a solution through peaceful means, and to respect the integrity and sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia," the statement said.

Separately, foreign ministry spokesman Ghaffar Fadyl told Antara the Indonesian government has evacuated all Belgrade diplomats and their families to safety.

"They are in Budapest, capital of Hungary," Ghaffar said.