RI regrets present situation in Iraq

RI regrets present situation in Iraq

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia expressed its regret yesterday over
the deteriorating situation in Iraq and urged all parties to
avoid escalating the crisis.

"We very much regret that the latest situation in Iraq has
deteriorated to the extent we are witnessing now," Minister of
Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas said.

On Tuesday the United States attacked Iraq, launching 27
cruise missiles at various military installations south of
Baghdad. A second attack was launched yesterday morning.

Washington has defended the strikes as a legitimate response
to continued Iraqi attacks on Kurds in the north of the country.
The American attack marked the biggest offensive launched against
Baghdad since the 1991 Gulf War.

"We urge all parties concerned to exercise restraint and to
prevent further escalations of the situation," Alatas said of the
situation there.

In the past few years Indonesia has remained a strong
supporter of alleviating the stern economic sanctions imposed on
Iraq after it was defeated by a U.S.-led multinational force in
1991.

Several Iraqi delegations in the last two years have been sent
here to lobby for Indonesia's continued support.

In June, an Iraqi delegation visited Indonesia to improve
trade ties after the United Nations allowed limited sales of
Iraqi oil to pay for badly needed food and medicines.

Indonesia's support is expected to be eagerly sought again in
the next few weeks since it currently has a seat on the United
Nations Security Council, the main body responsible for imposing
sanctions.

Alatas revealed that the latest situation was being discussed
informally at the UN.

He did not explicitly reveal what line Indonesia would take,
but underscored that it would not support an intrusion into Iraqi
territory.

"In this context Indonesia reiterates its basic stance that
the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq should be
respected," he said. (mds)