Former President Ahtisaari invites Aceh negotiators back to Finland

Congenial meeting between rebels and Indonesian government representatives ended a day early

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Former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari decided on Saturday to bring to a close negotiations that he chaired during the weekend between representatives of the Indonesian government and rebels of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM), winding things up a day ahead of schedule.
      After the talks in Vantaa, Ahtisaari extended an invitation to the parties to the talks to come back to Finland to continue efforts to find a peace settlement.
      Reuters News Agency reported on Saturday that there had been talk within the Indonesian government of a comprehensive peace agreement.
     
Ahtisaari said that the greatest achievement of the talks was simply getting the two sides to the same negotiating table. The discussions, which began on Thursday, focused primarily on the humanitarian situation in Aceh, and on issues relating to the aftermath of the tsunami there.
      At a press conference held in Helsinki at the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs on Saturday evening, former President Ahtisaari said that he expected the next round of talks to be considerably more difficult.
      The sides were originally expected to continue the discussions through Sunday, and the end of talks on Saturday came as a surprise. Ahtisaari said that there was no great drama in the decision to cut the talks short; he had simply decided to send the two sides home to "do their homework" - to consult with their leaders.
      "I asked that soldiers on both sides would behave", Ahtisaari said at the press conference. There is no formal ceasefire in Aceh Province, but both sides have promised to refrain from military operations.
      The basis of the discussions is the offer of autonomy made by the Indonesian government. Ahtisaari emphasised that before the latest talks, the parties had not been in contact in 20 months, and that therefore, it would have been a miracle if a settlement had emerged from the negotiations.
     
"It is not realistic to assume that they would start to love each other right away", he said. Ahtisaari added that he was impressed by the cordial atmosphere that prevailed.
      The former President compared peace talks with salmon fishing: it's worth trying, even if there is no guarantee of catching anything.
      Ahtisaari said that the first feelers for the talks took place in February last year, when he met a representative of the Indonesian government in Helsinki. When he later also met with representatives of the Free Aceh Movement, it was possible to agree on starting the peace talks. He also emphasised that he had informed the Finnish government and President about the initiative at an early stage.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Former President Ahtisaari meets with both sides of Aceh dispute (28.1.2005)
  Indonesia to send high-level delegation to Helsinki talks (26.1.2005)
  Aceh rebels hope Helsinki talks will lead to cease fire (24.1.2005)
  Preliminary Indonesian peace talks to begin in Helsinki (24.1.2005)

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