Indonesia to Recognize Palestinian StatehoodThe Indonesian government will recognize the Palestinian statehood if Palestine decides to proceed with it, Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab said Tuesday."It is only a technical matter," he told reporters after meeting with President Abdurrahman Wahid at the Merdeka Palace. The minister said he will very soon leave for a number of Gulf countries and meet with their leaders to convey the president's ideas. "He has asked me to meet with (Palestinian leader) Yassir Arafat, (Jordan's) King Abdullah, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Syrian President (Bashar Al-Assad)," Alwi said. The president wants to communicate with leaders of Middle Eastern countries to share some of his ideas on the Mideast peace process, Alwi said, adding that Wahid's ideas are related to Palestine's plan to declare the establishment of the Palestinian state on September 13. The minister disclosed that basically, the president is urging every party involved in the peace process to give priority to negotiations. "If it is possible, Gus Dur (as the president is widely known) expects the parties to find a way to achieve peace before (Palestine makes) the declaration," Alwi added. The president will promote his ideas in the international forum because Indonesia is the world's biggest Muslim country. "We (Indonesia) should play a big role," Alwi stressed. Alwi's visit to the Middle East will be part of an overseas trip that will also take him to the United States, France and the Netherlands starting on August 30. |
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