The Hindu : International / Globescan : Jakarta, rebels cut short talks

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Monday, Jan 31, 2005

International

International - Globescan

Jakarta, rebels cut short talks

Helsinki: Members of the Indonesian Government and Aceh rebel leaders cut short talks on tsunami relief operations and ways of ending a 30-year conflict in the breakaway region, but Finnish mediators invited them to continue negotiations later. The two sides met at a secluded manor house north of the Finnish capital, Helsinki, for talks convened by the former Finnish President, Martti Ahtisaari. Mr. Ahtisaari did not reveal why the closed-door talks, which had been scheduled to continue on Sunday, finished a day early, but said he had invited both parties for a second round of meetings in Helsinki. Neither party had yet accepted the invitation, Mr. Ahtisaari said, adding that he would be ``highly disappointed'' if they did not return to Helsinki. Indonesian Communications Minister, Sofyan Djalil, described the meetings as ``quite hopeful''. — AP

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