---------------------------------------------------------- Visit Indonesia Daily News Online HomePage: http://www.indo-news.com/ Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 ---------------------------------------------------------- ANTARA, September 25, 1999 RI-A'lian ties: "I'm Sad To See RI-A'lian Hostility," Former A'lian PM Says Canberra, Australia, Sept 25 (ANTARA)- Former Australian prime minister Paul J Keating has admitted that he is very sad over the hostility now developing between Indonesia and Australia as a result of the development of circumstances in East Timor. "When I was Australian prime minister, I worked really hard to build mutual understanding between Indonesia and Australia. So I'm sad to see how things are between the two countries," he said in a written interview with ANTARA here saturday. In this interview, Keating gave the impression of being very careful in assessing the policy on East Timor adopted by the present Australian government, although he very much regretted tha attitude of Prime Minister John Howard, which has led to worsening bilateral relations. According to him, what was happened in East Timor is a tragedy and all the perpetrators must account for what they have done. He was quick to add, however, that various acts of violence in East Timor are not the responsibility of the Indonesian people. Therefore, he is very much against violence and revenge subjected to Indonesian citizens and assets in Australia, or the other way around. He refused to answer, however, when he was asked whether Howard's ways of handling the East Timor question, clearly showing his arrogance and his meddling too much in Indonesian domestic affairs, are simply intended to garner domestic political support for him. Keating stressed that the East Timor question was a complex matter and that its handling, therefore, had to be compatible with the level of complexity of the problem at hand. "If the East Timor question is viewed as only a trifle and if its solution is bnased on emotional sentiment only, the two countries will continue to be embroiled in hostility, a condition which will eventually lead to uncalled for circumstances which neither side hope to take place," he said. He further said that East Timor would shortly be an independent state and that therefore both Indonesia and Australia have to work together to make East Timor's independence a reality. Although East Timor will become an independent state in the future, both Indonesia and Australia, as its neigbouring countries, will continue to play an influential role. Not only will the cooperation between Indonesia and Australia be important for East Timor, but it will also convince both sides that an independent East Timor will not always be a source of tension between Indonesia and Australia, he noted. Security treaty In his opinion, this security is a statement of mutual trust between the two governments and serves as a commitment to consult each other on various events in the region. "The abrogation of this security treaty is a yardstick with which we can measure the extent bilateral relations have soured. This is really saddening, he said. Keating also asked the Australian government and people to better understand Indonesia's domestic affairs amidst the ongoing deep economic crisis. He also praised the Indonesian people for their successful experiment with a more open political situation despite the acute economic difficulties. Therefore, he said, the Indonesian people would finally get out of this difficult period and that Indonesia would then enjoy a better economic condition and stronger political institutions. (U.LCB-01/INT-LII/11:10/INT-TA/ri3/11:34/TB05) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 30 Sep 1999 jam 09:15:22 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
