Netherlands to recognize Indonesia`s independence day in writing

Antara News, Thursday, September 30, 2010 17:36 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - One of the aims of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s visit to the Netherlands in early October 2010 is to obtain written recognition from the Dutch of Indonesia`s independence proclaimed on August 17, 1945, a presidential spokesman said.

Presidential spokesman for foreign affairs Teuku Faizasyah said at the State Palace here on Thursday that the Netherlands would provide Indonesia with a document officially recognizing its independence on August 17, 1945.

"The recognition of the country`s sovereignty on August 17, 1945 will be one of the important points on the President`s agenda there. It will be a statement in writing. We still don`t have official Dutch recognition of our independence. What once happened in the past was a transfer of sovereignty," the presidential spokesman said.

“With the support of the Dutch government I will
impress upon the Indonesian people that the Netherlands
understands that de facto independence started on
August 17, 1945 and that we – 60 years after the fact
– accept this fact generouslyin a moral and political
sense.” Foreign Minister Ben Bot (Aug 17th, 2005)

So far, the Netherlands` recognition still constituted a de facto statement through the presence of its foreign minister, at that time Ben Bot, at the Indonesian independence anniversary celebrations on August 17, 2005.

Faiza said Indonesia and the Netherlands had since 2009 discussed the need for document of recognition of Indonesia`s independence on August 17, 1945.

The negotiations had been going on for a long time. The document was initialed in 2009, he said.

He said the document would be signed by the governments of Indonesia and the Netherlands.

So far, the Netherlands only recognized Indonesia`s independence through the transfer of sovereignty at the Dam Palace in Amsterdam at the end of the Round Table Conference on December 27, 1949.

He said that bilateral relations between Indonesia and the Netherlands were still hampered by psychological matters due to historical burdens.

According to plan, President Yudhoyono will conduct a state visit to the Netherlands on October 5-9, 2010 at the invitation of Queen Beatrix. The visit had been delayed for four years.

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