The Government Will Not Apologize to Taiwan

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will not apologize for having refused the visit of Taiwan President Chen Sui-Bian to Indonesia last December. The Ministrys spokesperson Marty Natalegawa made this statement during a press conference held at his office in Jakarta on Friday (3/1). This statement came in response to news mentioning Taiwan governments demand for the Indonesian government to apologize for the refusal of the visit. Its not true. Up to now, our ministry is yet to receive any official statement from theTaiwanese government regarding such demand, said Natalegawa. He added that the Indonesian government would not apologize to the Taiwanese government for implementing its One-China policy. At least not now, said Natalegawa. Last December, President Chen had to cancel his visit to Indonesia due to the refusal to his visit from the Indonesian government. President Chen had planned to visit Jogjakarta and meet with Sultan Hamengkubuwono X. However, the Indonesian government refused the visit because of the One-China policy, which does not accept Taiwan as a sovereign country. Taiwanese parliament members were upset to hear of the visit being refused and called for their government to withdraw all Taiwanese investments in Indonesia. (D. A. ChandraningrumTempo News Room)