10 December 2002
Bush Hails Agreement Between Jakarta, Free Aceh Movement
(President promises assistance in December 9 statement) (340)
President George Bush congratulated the Indonesian government and the
leadership of the Free Aceh Movement on a peace agreement the two
sides signed December 9.
"To reinforce the peace, the United States will work closely with
Japan, Australia, and Indonesia's other partners in the coming months
to provide humanitarian and reconstruction assistance for Aceh," Bush
said in a statement released by the White House December 9.
The United States, he added, welcomed the decision of Thailand and the
Philippines to deploy monitors to Indonesia to help in maintaining the
new peace agreement.
Following is the text of the President's December 9 statement on the
peace agreement between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh
Movement:
(begin text)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
December 9, 2002
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
I congratulate the Government of Indonesia and the leadership of the
Free Aceh Movement on the peace agreement signed on December 9th. The
United States strongly supports this courageous effort to end a
conflict that has cost thousands of innocent lives in Aceh and torn at
the fabric of Indonesia for almost three decades. I commend President
Megawati and the people of Aceh for choosing the path of
reconciliation over the path of violence. I applaud the determined
efforts of the Henri Dunant Center which made this agreement possible.
The United States strongly supports the agreement's monitoring
mechanisms, which will ensure that both sides follow through on their
commitments. We welcome decisions by the Governments of Thailand and
the Philippines to deploy monitors in support of that mission. To
reinforce the peace, the United States will work closely with Japan,
Australia, and Indonesia's other partners in the coming months to
provide humanitarian and reconstruction assistance for Aceh.
Today's agreement demonstrates that Indonesia's efforts to fight
terror and maintain a united Indonesian nation are fully compatible
with principled efforts to address legitimate political grievances.
The agreement offers the hope of greater autonomy and respect for the
people of Aceh. I call on all parties to the agreement to faithfully
meet their commitments and build the better future that all
peace-loving Indonesians expect and deserve.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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