Indonesia: Annan urges parties to do 'utmost' to restore peace process in Aceh

Following the collapse of talks held over the weekend between the Government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement to resume implementation of a peace accord, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today urged the parties to do their utmost to restore the peace process in the north-western province.

A UN spokesman in New York issued a statement saying the Secretary-General was "disappointed" that, after two days of meetings in Tokyo, the Government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement failed to reach agreement to resume implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA), which they signed in December 2002.

"Despite setbacks in its implementation, the Agreement had brought real improvement in the daily life of the population in Aceh," the statement said. "The Secretary-General is accordingly deeply concerned about reports of renewed fighting in Aceh with the imposition of martial law in the province."

The Secretary-General "remains convinced of the need to resolve the problems in Aceh peacefully, in a manner consistent with the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Indonesia," added the statement, which also urged all parties "to do their utmost" to restore the peace process.