---------------------------------------------------------- Live and work in the USA legally: Register for the GREEN CARD LOTTERY! Visit http://www.us-immigration.org -0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0 Indonesia Daily News Online http://www.indo-news.com/ Free Email @KotakPos.com visit: http://my.kotakpos.com/ ---------------------------------------------------------- Antara, September 14 2000 EUROPEAN UNION CONTINUES SUPPORTING INDONESIA Brussels, Sept 14 (ANTARA) - The European Parliament has expressed its wish to continue its support to Indonesia in its processes of development, democratization and upholding of human rights, and its efforts of overcoming internal conflicts. "We understand Indonesia is in a difficult position to overcome all these problems, and we therefore wish to continue our cooperation to that end," Chairman of the European Parliament`s Cooperation and Development Committee Joaquim Miranda said in Brussels on Wednesday. He noticed that Indonesia is currently trying hard to overcome all those problems, while the military appeared to be rather slow on responding to President Abdurrahman Wahid`s policies. The politician of Portuguese origin added that the European Parliament devoted its full attention to Indonesia in the peaceful settlement of its internal conflicts as soon as possibso wished that its close relations with Indonesia, which enjoys a strategic position, especially in ASEAN, are not disrupted. We remain committed under a European Union communication with Indonesia," Miranda said. In the meantime, Indonesian Ambassador to the European Community Nasrudin Sumintapura said the Indonesian government wished the continued support from European Union member countries in solving a number of problems on the basis of mutual benefit. "The EU should continue it support to Indonesia and develop bilateral cooaion intensively in accordance with the political dialogue that had been agreed upon between the two sides," he said. At the hearing he also pointed out that Indonesia hoped for the EU`s continued political support to the development of integration in dealing with the conflicts in Maluku, Irian Jaya and Aceh. "In this case we feel that no external intervention is necessary, but guidance and assistance to the interest of a number of provinces are highly welcome," he said. On the occasion Nasrudin dwelled on the backgrounds of a number of current problems and ways of the Indonesian government to settle them, including economic recovery, the settlement of the problem of East Timorese refugees, and the repositioning of the military (TNI) in the national strata and parliament. Indonesia, he said, welcomed the assistance for education and training on the independence of the judiciary, protection of human rights and promoting the authority of the Attorney General`s Office. "These kinds of assistance is very important to support the process of reforms in Indonesia. We also hope that the EU along with the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) give their support towares the creation of a clean government," he said. Furthermore, Nasrudin, who was Junior Minister for Financial Affairs, said Indonesia and the EU both care about creating a stable and peaceful region in Southeast Asia, as had been discussed under ASEAN-EU cooperation and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) as well as in Asia-Europe Meetings (ASEM). "The EU should also play a part in the settlement of the conflict in the South China Sea, and in this case Indonesia has played an active role in a series of workshops," Nasrudin Sumintapura said. The EU Council in March 2000 underlined a proposal of the European Commission as an EU executive council to give support to Indonesia in the development of its development processes, including holding democracy, human rights and bolstering bilateral cooperation. In mid-June 2000, the EU Council in Luxembourg also issued a joint declaration with the Indonesian government to enhance bilateral cooperation through periodical political dialogues. The current 15 EU member countries are Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, the UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Lusembourg, France, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Greece. (U.LPT- 1/ING/23:02/RSI-03) 1409000041 NNNN ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 18 Sep 2000 jam 05:42:56 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
