---------------------------------------------------------- Visit Indonesia Daily News Online HomePage: http://www.indo-news.com/ Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 ---------------------------------------------------------- The Jakarta Post, 26 October, 1999 Alwi Hopes To Mend Fences With Australia JAKARTA (JP): Muslim scholar Alwi Shihab, who is widely tipped to be named the new foreign minister on Tuesday, said on Monday that he hoped for better ties with Australia under the new government of President Abdurrahman Wahid. "With the right approach, God willing, we will strengthen ties once again," Alwi, known as the President's right-hand man, said at the Presidential Palace. The 53-year-old holder of a doctorate in Islamic studies from Temple University in Philadelphia would not confirm his widely expected appointment. Alwi said he met Australian Ambassador to Indonesia John McCarthy on Monday and the latter expressed his desire to see amiable bilateral ties restored as soon as possible. Relations between the two countries have plunged to their lowest level in recent years over the issue of East Timor, with Jakarta accusing Canberra of betraying its trust and meddling in its domestic affairs. >From being the main supporter of Jakarta's claim to East Timor, Australia became its staunchest critic. In a decision which many Indonesians considered a further affront, the United Nations named Australia last month to head the multinational peacekeeping force in East Timor. The Australian Embassy in Jakarta has been an almost daily target of demonstrations. Australian dock workers at one time boycotted goods bound for or arriving from Indonesia in protest at Jakarta's failure to stem violence in East Timor. Indonesia has yet to name its new ambassador to Australia. In recent weeks during the East Timor crisis, Abdurrahman was among the harshest Indonesian critics of Australia, vowing to keep bilateral relations "as cold as possible" if he became president. Alwi played down the statement, saying that the new government would look for the best way of restoring ties with Australia and overcoming differences in an amicable way. He noted that Australia had displayed more conciliatory attitudes, including Prime Minister John Howard's acknowledgment of some mistakes in Australia's policy toward Indonesia which were being rectified. "There is no need for us to remain angry. It is enough that they know we were angry and displeased," Alwi said. He said that all religions taught their followers to live in peace with their neighbors. "I hope Australia will show that feeling, pay attention to and consider the sensitivity of its neighbor to avoid untoward things." On the prospects of Indonesia opening diplomatic ties with Israel, Alwi said the new government would initially encourage the establishment of commercial and cultural ties with the Jewish state. Indonesia's economic recovery could benefit from the powerful lobbies Israel has in international business, he said. He said the commercial ties could eventually lead to the establishment of diplomatic ties, but on the condition that Indonesia was brought into the Middle East peace process and not before there was a just and fair end to the process. "As the world's largest Muslim country, Indonesia's voice must be heard. We could speak on behalf of or in the interest of our Palestinian brothers," he said. "Without trade and cultural ties, they (the Israelis) won't listen to us because we have shut ourselves out. If we open ourselves up, then someday we could even act as a mediator." (prb/emb) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 1 Nov 1999 jam 02:05:28 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
