---------------------------------------------------------- Visit Indonesia Daily News Online HomePage: http://www.indo-news.com/ Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 -0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0 Free Email @KotakPos.com visit: http://my.kotakpos.com/ ---------------------------------------------------------- BBC Summary of World Broadcasts Saturday, November 27, 1999 Source: Voice of Israel, Jerusalem, in Hebrew 1305 gmt 25 Nov 99 President interviewed on being "friends" with Israel Excerpts from report on telephone interview with Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid "this morning" in Amman's al-Nadwah Palace by Gid' on Remez in the daily "Foreign Newsreel" programme; Wahid's remarks in English followed by Remez's translation; broadcast by Israel radio on 25th November [Remez] Today we are devoting the bulk of our programme to the first interview given to the Israeli media by an Indonesian president, the fourth most populated country in the world and the largest Muslim country. Incidentally,this is not the first time that the man himself, Abdurrahman Wahid, has been interviewed on our programme. About a year ago, when he was the leader of the largest Muslim organization in the world, he willingly acceded to be interviewed, when his illness - which has left him almost blind - prevented him from attending a conference of the Peres Centre for Peace of which he is one of the founding members. Back then Wahid told our correspondent Miri Scharf that he favoured the establishment of full diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Israel. We hastened to play that recording when in a surprising move last month, the Indonesian Congress chose Wahid as a compromise candidate for the post of president of Indonesia, which has been undergoing a serious political and economic crisis. However, in his first public appearance as president, Wahid toned down his position towards Israel and spoke only about trade ties. We must look political reality in the face, Wahid told our programme this morning from al-Nadwah Palace in Amman. [Wahid] We have to see the reality of politics, that we cannot force our view. Because of this we have to do it step by step. [Remez] Wahid confirmed that he received congratulatory messages upon his election from Prime Minister Barak and President Ezer Weizman. [Wahid] We have been given congratulations from Prime Minister Barak, and also from the president. You know, your ambassador in Singapore visited me in Jakarta. We are thanking you that we were not left out by your people because of the change in our views. [Remez] Wahid affirmed that he remains a council member of the Peres Centre for Peace and that he continues to support the peace process and ties with Israel. [Wahid] I intend to open a commercial relationship, a trade relationship with Israel, although not by opening the office for it. As you know, a trade relationship is a way to mutual understanding between the two sides. We have to start the negotiations from the - quote-unquote - ordinary life cycle. So, for example, when I said that I won't support the PLO on anything, that means that if they make peace with the Israelis, then we'll follow, we'll support them. [Remez] At this point, Wahid seemed to reveal the reason for his wish to clarify his positions to Qol Yisra'el. Yesterday he held a meeting in Amman with Yasir Arafat, at the end of which statements were issued on Wahid's behalf - but mainly by Yasir Abd-Rabbuh - to the effect that he supports making Jerusalem the capital of a Palestinian state and that he supports all the PLO's demands. When I said that, Wahid clarified in our interview, I meant that I would support them on condition that they make peace with the Israelis. It is true that I announced that trade ties with the Palestinian Authority would precede those I want to forge with Israel. [Wahid] It's important for us to blunt criticisms of our action. As you know, we have very strong critics of our relationship with Israel. So, in order to make the criticisms a little bit mellower, then we have to open a relationship with the Palestinians. Besides that, we have from the past brotherly feelings for the Palestinian case. All the Palestinians and the Israelis are the same in my eyes. [Remez] We will open a commercial representation in Gaza and later one in Israel, Wahid said... We asked Wahid: You were quoted as saying that you support the Palestinian position on the question of Jerusalem. Is that right? [Wahid] It is up to the Israelis and the Palestinians to reach agreement, and then we'll follow them, we will support them, because this is not our business. It's the business of the Israelis and the Palestinians. [Remez] Seeing that you enjoy the confidence of both sides, would you also like to help them reach such an agreement, we asked him. [Wahid] That's the intention. I mean, by opening the trade relationships we will have to play a role, because we are accepted by both sides. [Remez] Asked about his motives and his priorities in these relationships, Wahid did not hesitate to reiterate, even to an Israeli-Jewish audience, statements he made in Jakarta. At this stage of healing our economy, we need investments, and as you know, the Jewish community everywhere is very active in the economic life of those countries from which we are hoping to attract capital. [Wahid] We need investments and, you know, the Jewish community everywhere are very active in the commercial side of the lives of the nations we would like to have investments from. So, because of this, it's better to approach the Israeli government on that, because they can speak on our behalf. [Remez] Such talk sounds differently from other people. For example, Wahid's Muslim neighbour, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, made some real anti-Semitic comments about the Jewish tycoons who, so he said, caused his country's economy to collapse. Only today, in an election campaign tour in Malaysia, Mahathir furiously denied accusations by a far more radical Muslim party that he was plotting and scheming with Israel. I know differently, Wahid pointed out. [Wahid] I know also that the Malaysian foreign minister has made - quote-unquote - approaches to the Israeli government. [Remez, in English] Is that so? Has he discussed it with you? [Wahid, laughing] No, no, no. We know it, because each state has intelligence. [Remez] We asked Wahid: Aren't Malaysia and other Muslim countries pressuring you to give up the Israeli connection? [Wahid] No, no. They know that we are the friends of Israel. I think they are more likely to ask our mediation than attacking us. [Remez] The incumbent ministers within your government - such as Vice-President Megawati Soekarnoputri, whom you bested in the elections, and the foreign minister, who is currently accompanying you in Jordan - do they all agree with your policy? Yes, the Indonesian president replied. You must understand that there are two main camps in my country: a nationalist and a Muslim one. The current rift over Israel is within the Muslim camp, between Israel's friends such as myself and those who are not its friends. [Wahid] The Muslim camp is divided into those who are the friends of Israel, and those who are not friends of Israel. Now the fighting is mainly within the Islamic movements. I think people from the nationalist movement now relish the fact that they have friends in seeking rapprochement with Israel. [Remez] According to persistent reports in the foreign media, Israel has long had relations with the Indonesian army. These consist, among other things, of the sale of equipment ranging from second-hand Skyhawk jets to communications systems. Confirming this fact, Wahid expressed his desire to pursue this relationship, but emphasized that this was not the only thing. [Wahid] Yes, of course, and not only limited to the military. We would like to broaden the relationship. [Remez] At the moment Wahid would seem to be on a confrontation course with Indonesia's defence establishment. The latter would like to impose military rule on the separatist province of Aceh and crack down the rebellion there by force. A report published in Jakarta today talks of atrocities committed already by the security forces against the residents of Aceh. However, Wahid rejected the notion of military rule, saying this would only weaken Indonesia's stronghold on Aceh. But, he proposed to me, don't believe the talk about a possible coup d'etat against me because of this dispute. [Wahid, laughing] Don't believe this report. Of course there are differences,but that doesn't mean we are in opposing camps. You know, between friends there are differences, even in your cabinet. The Israelis and the Indonesians share the same thing. If they are Indonesians or they are Jews, two of them will mean five opinions. [Remez] Instead of imposing military rule on Aceh, Wahid would rather hold a referendum there, but only on the possibility of enforcing Shari'ah law, as the rebels are demanding, without the option of independence. He does not believe this is the first step leading to Aceh's secession from Indonesia and the disintegration of the country. [Wahid] I know the people of Aceh exactly, even better than those separatists. My people worked for Aceh everywhere, long before the presidential election. [Remez] On another burning issue in Indonesia, we asked the president for his opinion on the corruption investigations against members of the previous regime. Should they be brought to trial for stealing the country's money? They should be brought to justice, replied Wahid, except for ex-President Suharto and his successor Habibie. [Wahid] Except Suharto and Habibie themselves. We don't see any pardon for the rest, the cronies, the families, and so forth. You don' t impeach presidents. [Remez] We asked Wahid: On another tour of the Middle East, will you also visit Israel? If not, perhaps you would like now to send a message to our people through Qol Yisra'el. He replied: As far as visiting Israel, I will look into it. As for the message, here it is: [Wahid] My message is only one thing: Please give tolerance to us as well as we give tolerance to you. It's fair. You are our friends. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 1 Dec 1999 jam 03:00:54 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
