By NNN-Antara
Jakarta : Indonesia President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono welcomed visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at a ceremony marked by a 21-gun salute at Merdeka Palace here on Monday.
After the ceremony, the two leaders were closeted in a meeting, which was followed by the signing of a joint cooperation declaration and cooperation agreement between the two nations.
The cooperation agreements included one on administrative consultation signed by the two countries` foreign affairs ministers, technical cooperation in human resources and dilomatic ties, news exchange cooperation between ANTARA News Agency of Indonesia and Wafa of Palestine, and a sister city cooperation between Jakarta and Al Quds Sharef.
After issuing a joint press statement, President Abbas and Palestinian Foreign Affairs and Information Minister Riad Al Maliki left the palace for the Kalibata Heroes` Cemetery.
In the afternoon, President Abbas was scheduled to hold meetings with the speaker of the Indonesian House of Repreesentatives (DPR) and the chairman of the People`s Consultative Assemby at the Parliament buidling.
Meanwhile, an observer of Middle East Affairs of the University of Indonesia, Broto Wardoyo, said that Indonesia`s role in trying to settle Palestinian peace issue should be improved.
“So far, Indonesia has only been giving moral support, without concrete action, in solving the Palestine peace problem,” Broto told Antara here on Sunday.
Indonesia has yet to make any significant contribution to the settlement of the Palestinian issue. Indonesia is only consistent in giving moral support to Palestine and opposing Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory in many occasions and international fora.
The basic problem in Indonesian policy in the peace process lies in the dialogues between Islamic public and the secular government. Without solving the conflict of domestic interest, all efforts would be in vain.
He stressed that Indonesia could build a bridge for a dialogue between Hamas and Fatah in Palestine. However Indonesia, as the world`s largest archipelagic country, could take into account Arabic aspirations from Eqypt, Saudi Arabia, Yordan and Syria, because they hav strong links with this issue.
An in-depth study on this matter was certainly required in considering Indonesian involvement. The Hamas-Fatah conflict posed a combination of political and cultural issues, and therefore its penetration in solving the conflict should also take into account the needs of both sides.
“The modes of settlement used in the GAM-Indonesia peace process, in settling the internal conflicts in Cambodia, and in dealing with the Moro tribe in the Philippines, can be combined in solving the Palestine peace problem,” said Broto, who was a student at Ben-Gurion University in Negev, Israel.
“I myself have never studied this possibility, it was just an idea,” he said, adding that it would also be necessary to approach Israel not only to build a mission, but also to convey the message.
This could be done according to need. In this context, understanding the “Jewish case” would be necessary. “By understanding their aspirations, it will be easier for us to find alternatives in the settlement of peace process,” he noted.
The most possible thing is Indonesia sharing the role with other players such as the US, Russia, the European Union and the Arab countries as a joint mediator.
By doing so, we can at least minimize our approach to Israel wihout hurting the struggle of the Palestinians for independence. In the domestic aspect, especially in Indonesia, public pressure on Indonesia`s direct contact with Israel could be steadly managed.
“Public education on this issue is required,” he said.