Indonesian and Dutch Governments Have Agreed to Work Towards Achieving a Ceasefire

The Indonesian and Dutch governments have agreed to work towards achieving a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, where more than 900 Palestinians were killed during three weeks of Israeli military aggression.

"At a meeting between Indonesia and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs Dutch urged both States to the declaration of a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip", Retno Marsudi LP, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Director General of the United States in European affairs, said here Wednesday.

The two countries will continue to make the United Nations to work towards achieving a ceasefire in the war-torn region, she said.

As a number of countries in the world, the Dutch government also expressed its concern over Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip which has caused a humanitarian crisis, she said.

Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen Dutch Marce Jacques is visiting Indonesia from 13 to 17 January 2009, to strengthen bilateral relations between the two nations.

The Israeli military aggression in the Gaza Strip killed more than 900 Palestinians, including women and children, and wounded over 4,000 others.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has sent a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to help stop the war in the Gaza Strip. (*)

Singapore appoints envoy to the ASEAN

Jakarta : Singapore Permanent Representative to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Lim Thuan Kuan, on Monday presented his credentials to the ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan during a ceremony at the ASEAN secretariat in Jakarta.

Singapore became the first ASEAN member countries to appoint a permanent representative of the secretariat said in a statement.

The ASEAN Charter, which took effect on December 15, 2008, requires all 10 member states to appoint a permanent representative with the rank of ambassador to be based in Jakarta.

The representatives, who form the Committee of Permanent Representatives, are responsible for supporting the work of the ASEAN Community Councils, coordination with the national secretariats of ASEAN and other countries of the ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial and contacts with the block of the Secretary-General and the Secretariat.

"We are pleased with Ambassador Lim," said Pitsuwan.

"I am convinced that his experience in the affairs of the ASEAN will contribute significantly to ASEAN community building efforts currently underway. I hope that the rest of Member States will continue their representatives in the ASEAN very soon."

Lim formerly served as ambassador of Singapore to Vietnam.

Israel will attack Decide Land

WASHINGTON: Israel must decide whether the need to reinforce its own assault land, as disclosed White House, Friday (2 / 1). However, the attack should keep the safety of civilians and the flow of aid to the Gaza Strip human being.

White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe did not directly answer the question, whether land attack daoat allowed. "I can not say about the operation because it has not been done. It was decided by Israel," spoken.

"Any action that is done, they must ensure that civilians not be targeted and we also need to continue the flow of humanitarian aid and food to the Gaza Strip," Johndroe added. (Reuters/OL-03)