FINLAND: INDONESIAN DELEGATION ARRIVE FOR EXPECTED SIGNING OF PEACE ACCORD WITH ACEH REBELS.

Record ID: 648645

  • Title: FINLAND: INDONESIAN DELEGATION ARRIVE FOR EXPECTED SIGNING OF PEACE ACCORD WITH ACEH REBELS.
  • Date: 14th August 2005
  • Summary: (W2) HELSINKI, FINLAND (AUGUST 14, 2005) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV/MV: MEDIA WAITING AT HELSINKI AIRPORT (3 SHOTS) 0.16 2. GV/MCU: MEMBERS OF THE INDONESIAN DELEGATION LEAVING THE AIRPORT, MEDIA (3 SHOTS) 0.30 4. MV/CU/GV: AWALUDDIN IN CAR, MOTORCADE LEAVING THE AIRPORT (4 SHOTS) 1.44 4. MOTORCADE LEAVING THE AIRPORT. Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 29th August 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: HELSINKI, FINLAND
  • Country: Finland
  • Reuters ID: LVA1PBP38J6BZ3WDG6HND5WWQX33
  • Story Text: Indonesian government chief negotiator arrives in
    Helsinki ahead of expected signing of a formal peace accord
    with Aceh rebels.



    The Indonesian government chief negotiator, justice
    minister Hamid Awaluddin arrived in the Finnish capital
    Helsinki on Sunday (August 14) morning where he and
    representatives of the Free Aceh Movement are expected to
    sign a truce agreement on Monday (August 15).

    "I would like to inform you that the signing of the MOU
    (Memorandum of Understanding) is a long and difficult
    process so we do hope that the signing will be access or
    entry gate for the realisation of the peaceful effort for
    solution and the issue of Aceh," Awaluddin told reports
    upon his arrival in Helsinki.

    The pact, to be signed in Helsinki where peace talks
    were brokered this year, contains provisions for an
    amnesty, disarming Free Aceh Movement (GAM) fighters,
    withdrawing government troops and monitoring by foreign
    officials and soldiers.

    "I would like to underline the key point, the important
    one, is the obedience of the matters agreed on the end
    product," he added.

    Successful implementation of the accord could smooth
    the way for a $5 billion U.S. dollar internationally backed
    reconstruction programme in Aceh. It would also be a plus
    for investors looking for stability in the world's fourth
    most populous country, with Indonesia eager to exploit
    Aceh's natural gas deposits more.

    The representatives of the Free Aceh Movement who
    arrived in Helsinki on Saturday (August 13) expressed their
    regret at the fact that some of their negotiators were
    still behind bars in Indonesia.

    "Well, one point of the MOU (Memorandum of
    Understanding) is discussion about the amnesty, so I think
    the government will give amnesty in accordance with the
    law." Awaluddin said.


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