FORMER FINNISH PM TO VISIT INDONESIA

Jakarta, Feb 20 (ANTARA) - Former Finnish Prime Minister Marti Ahtisaari is to visit Indonesia February 21 to 24 to meet with several government officials in Jakarta and make a trip to Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) province.

Indonesian Ambassador to Finland and Estonia, Harry Purwanto, said on Friday Ahtisaari would meet with Vice President Jusuf Kalla who initiated the Helsinki Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
Harry Purwanto said besides a meeting with Vice President Jusuf Kalla, the former Finnish prime minster would visit Aceh to obtain first-hand information on the implementation of the Helsinki peace agreement in the province.
In his previous statement, the former Finnish prime minister said mutual understanding between the Indonesian government and GAM should continue to be maintained for a lasting peace in Aceh.
Commenting on Marti Ahtisaari's planned visit, National Defense Forces (TNI) Chief Gen. Djoko Santoso said here on Thursday that all parties should respect the Helsinki Peace Agreement which was signed on August 15, 2005 in Helsinki, Finland.
"All parties both in Aceh and overseas should respect the Aceh Peace Agreement," Santoso said,
He said security conditions in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) province were relatively conducive in the framework of the civil administration order and therefore it should continue to be maintained.
The TNI chief admitted that certain parties in the province had remained opposed to the Helsinki Peace Agreement but this was something normal.
Despite the dissatisfaction, Djoko Santoso said, the peace agreement should be respected and applied by all parties and make the province a peaceful area.
He noted that Aceh was part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) and its sovereign existence should be respected by all parties.
"Therefore there is no excuse for any party to disturb the already peaceful conditions in the province," the TNI chief said.