Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
The South African Government has welcomed President Soeharto's decision to withdraw from his position as President of Indonesia with immediate effect, as a bold and courageous step. It believes that this decision was taken in the interests of the people of Indonesia.
The South African Government urges his successor, President Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie, as well as all the other Indonesian leaders, to use this opportunity to ensure a speedy return to political stability and economic recovery in this undeniably important country in the South East Asian region.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 21 MAY 1998