British Government respects RI of territorial integrity: UK Ambassador

| | Thu, 01 January 1970, 7: 00 AM

Mark Canning, the British Ambassador to Indonesia, the position of the British Government on Monday while respecting the territorial integrity of Indonesia not supported calls for independence from repeated, and Papua.

"We consider as part of Indonesia West Papua. That's always been our opinion, and this recent development does not change anything, "Canning said as quoted by Antara news agency.

He was called up by Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa, on Monday, after the opening of a free West Papua Office in Oxford, on 28 April.

"The Minister transferred to me in clear terms the deep concern of the Indonesian Government on the opening of an Office free West Papua in Oxford," Canning said after the meeting.

During the meeting, Canning Marty explained that the British Government recognized the sensitivity of the issue for Indonesia.

"We also support the efforts of the presidential delivery unit [UKP4], that the problems of West Papua and hope to see enjoying the same level as the other parts of this nation of peace, stability and prosperity. I made these points to Papua Governor Lukas Enembe when we met last week, "Canning said.

"We believe that the Indonesian Government really is committed to addressing the problems in that region and I hope that the efforts will bear fruit," he added.

The Indonesian Government has asked its counterpart in its policy consistently unable to support all UK actions in relation to the separatist movement in Papua and West Papua.

The Office was opened by the free West Papua campaign, led by the British-based Papua exile Benny Wenda, with the support of the international parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP) group. (asw/ebf)