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)