- The Government
and the people of Indonesia strongly deplores the unilateral
action taken by the Government of the United States
of America and its allies that have decided to go to
war against Iraq. Indonesia deeply regrets that the
multilateral process through the UN Security Council
has been sidelined. Indonesia is of the view that the
use of military force against Iraq based on the unilateral
decision constitutes an act of aggression which is in
contravention to international law. This unilateral
military action has also threatened the world order.
- War will not only
fail to resolve the problem, but it will also cause
humanitarian tragedy. The Government and the people
of Indonesia are gravely concerned over the innocent
civilian casualties and the immense material losses
that may result from this military action. The war will
bring negative economic and political impacts to the
Middle East region and throughout the world, including
Indonesia.
- The Indonesian
Government, through its diplomatic efforts both bilaterally
and through international fora such as ASEAN, the Non
Aligned Movement, the Organization of Islamic Conference,
and the United Nations, has consistently stressed the
need to find a peaceful solution to the Iraqi crisis.
These efforts have even been strengthened by peace missions
of the Indonesian inter-faith leaders to several countries
as well as by the repeated call for peace from all segments
of the Indonesian nation. The Government has earlier
on established "the National Team to Address the
Impact of the Iraqi Crisis" in order to take precautionary
measures for the protection of Indonesian nationals
in the Middle East as well as to anticipate negative
impacts towards Indonesia.
- The Government
of Indonesia demands the United Nations Security Council,
which has the responsibility to maintain international
peace and security, to immediately convene in an emergency
meeting in order to urge the Government of the United
States of America and its allies to immediately stop
the war and for the Government of the United States
of America and its allies to be responsible to overcome
the humanitarian aspects resulting from the conflict
situation. Should the efforts by the UN Security Council
come to a dead-lock, Indonesia will urge the UN General
Assembly to convene in an emergency session under the
framework of the "uniting for peace" resolution.
- The Government
of Indonesia emphasizes the need to avoid the further
destabilization of the Middle East region. The Indonesian
Government also stresses that any solution to the question
of Iraq should respect the territorial integrity and
national sovereignty of Iraq.
- The Government
of Indonesia calls on all Indonesian nationals within
the vicinity of Iraq to remain calm and report to the
nearest Indonesian Missions for any necessary assistance
and protection.
- The Government
of Indonesia fully shares the outpouring of anti-war
calls and sympathy from the Indonesian people towards
the plight of the Iraqi people. Such sympathy should
be expressed in a peaceful and democratic manner as
well as in a manner that should not undermine public
order and our national stability --- and by maintaining
our national unity and integrity.
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Jakarta,
20 March 2003
THE PRESIDENT
OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA
MEGAWATI SOEKARNOPUTRI
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