The Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Jozias van Aartsen, said yesterday he wanted to maintain the arms embargo on Indonesia, which was imposed over the conflict in East Timor last year. The four-month EU arms embargo expires today. It is open to review but is expected to be lifted.
Speaking on national radio, Mr van Aartsen urged Dutch defence electronics firm Hollandse Signaalapparaten (HSA) to abstain from supplying radar equipment to Indonesia next week.
Meanwhile, the US ambassador to Indonesia, Mr Robert Gelbard, met President Abdurrahman Wahid in Jakarta to convey a message of support from US President Bill Clinton.
The US on Friday bluntly warned Indonesian generals against staging a coup against Mr Wahid.