ID :
67353
Tue, 06/23/2009 - 20:41
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/67353
The shortlink copeid
SBY DENIES BEING SOFT IN AMBALAT DISPUTE
Jakarta, June 23 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono denied that he had not been firm in handling the Ambalat problem.
"Diplomacy is our choice. It is not about being firm or not firm. It is a choice between going to war and not going to war. We have chosen the more civilized way. Sovereignty is not something to be bargained about. We are serious in dealing with the Ambalat problem," he said when opening a leadership meeting of the Panca Marga youth organization here on Tuesday.
He said the decision to choose diplomatic means to settle the Ambalat problem was the most rational and respectable choice.
"If the choice is war let us go to war. But being rational we think the most important thing is that no inch of our territory will be lost. Isn't that more civilized. We do not have to spend trillions and sacrifice lives in the dispute. I have chosen intensive negotiations based on the principle that the country's sovereignty cannot be compromised," he said.
"The bottom line is avoiding any incident and therefore intensive negotiations are to be continued. This is by presidential accountability to the constitution, to history and the future," he said.
Regarding separatism President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he would make all possible efforts to prevent any activity or movement that would o break up the country from within.
"Domestically, we do not tolerate separatist movements. The red and white must continue to fly. Separatist movements must not always be settled using military force. What is important is the unitary state of Indonesia remains intact. A diplomatic approach is more respectable. If no other way, then we will certainly take coercive action for the sake of safeguarding the unitary state of Indonesia.
On the occasion, Yudhoyono was accompanied by several cabinet ministers, including Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo AS, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie, Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono and Youth and Sports Minister Adhyaksa Dault. ***
"Diplomacy is our choice. It is not about being firm or not firm. It is a choice between going to war and not going to war. We have chosen the more civilized way. Sovereignty is not something to be bargained about. We are serious in dealing with the Ambalat problem," he said when opening a leadership meeting of the Panca Marga youth organization here on Tuesday.
He said the decision to choose diplomatic means to settle the Ambalat problem was the most rational and respectable choice.
"If the choice is war let us go to war. But being rational we think the most important thing is that no inch of our territory will be lost. Isn't that more civilized. We do not have to spend trillions and sacrifice lives in the dispute. I have chosen intensive negotiations based on the principle that the country's sovereignty cannot be compromised," he said.
"The bottom line is avoiding any incident and therefore intensive negotiations are to be continued. This is by presidential accountability to the constitution, to history and the future," he said.
Regarding separatism President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he would make all possible efforts to prevent any activity or movement that would o break up the country from within.
"Domestically, we do not tolerate separatist movements. The red and white must continue to fly. Separatist movements must not always be settled using military force. What is important is the unitary state of Indonesia remains intact. A diplomatic approach is more respectable. If no other way, then we will certainly take coercive action for the sake of safeguarding the unitary state of Indonesia.
On the occasion, Yudhoyono was accompanied by several cabinet ministers, including Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo AS, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie, Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono and Youth and Sports Minister Adhyaksa Dault. ***
