Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Europe for Peace

85995.pdf (application/pdf Object)

It is highly significant that former President of Finland Martti Ahtisaari has succeeded in forging a peace deal between the Government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement.

It brings the prospect of peace to that troubled province after 30 years of more or less intense fighting, and should also have an effect on other potential troublespots in the vast archipelagoe of Indonesia.

The implementation of the agreement will now be monitored by an EU-led Aceh Monitoring Mission.

Both the way in which this agreement has been negotiated - by a non-governmental organisation under Martti Ahtisaari - and the way its implementation will now be assisted shows the way in which Europe can play a constructive role in trying to solve different conflicts also in more far-away regions of the world.

The world is likely to take note.