Indonesia Calls on UN Security Council to Stop Israeli Aggression

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The Indonesian government has called on the UN Security Council to stop Israeli aggression against Palestine, according to an announcement by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, at a press conference in Jakarta on Monday night (1/4). The Indonesian government condemns Israel’s aggression against Palestine because the attack, which has claimed many innocent lives and threatened Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, has damaged the peace process. “Indonesia believes Israel must be held responsible for the safety of Yasser Arafat’,” said Yudhoyono, who was accompanied by Marty Natalegawa, the spokesperson of Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Previously, Yudhoyono headed a closed-meeting discussing the Israel-Palestine conflict and then consulted with President Megawati Soekarnoputri through Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirajuda, while the President and Foreign Minister were visiting India. “I am announcing Indonesia’s stance as the ad interim Minister of Foreign Affairs,” said the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security. The Indonesian government, Yudhoyono continued, emphasizes Yasser Arafat’s role on the peace process of creating peace and rejects Israel’s efforts to sidestep the Palestine leader. He went on to say that Indonesia calls on the international community to take steps to stop Israel’s attacks and to save the innocent people of Palestine, especially women and children. Israel’s invasion against Arab is illegal and, “the Security Council has a very important role [to handle this problem] in accordance with its responsibility stated in the UN decree,” said Yudhoyono. (Eduardus Karel Dewanto--TEMPO News Room)