U.S. not support Papuan separatism'

U.S. not support Papuan separatism'

UNITED STATES: The U.S. State Department announced on Friday that Washington would not support any efforts that would allow Papua to gain independence from Indonesia.

"With respect to Papua, the U.S. reiterates its firm support for the territorial integrity of Indonesia. The U.S. does not support or condone any efforts to promote the secession of Papua from the Republic of Indonesia.

"We believe that implementation of political and economic reforms, in the context of Special Autonomy and within a united Indonesia, is the key to addressing long-standing grievances, including human rights concerns," McCormack said during a daily briefing on July 29 in Washington.

McCormack's remarks were made apparently in response to Indonesia's warning to the U.S. not to interfere in its domestic affairs, which was delivered after the U.S. House of Representatives recently approved a bill that questioned the status of Papua. -- Antara