THE WISMA INDONESIA; MAJOR GENERAL ARTO AND INDONESIAN REPRESENTATIVES ARRIVE FOR OPENING CEREMONIES; MRS ARTO CUTS RIBBON; PLAQUE IS UNVEILED; OFFICIALS INSPECT INTERIOR.




Initials IF/VS/BOB/ES



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Background: INDONESIA AND SINGAPORE MOVED A STEP CLOSER TOWARDS THE RESTORATION OF FULL DIPLOMATIC TIES YESTERDAY (MONDAY) WITH THE OPENING OF THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR 'WISMA INDONESIA' -- THE INDONESIAN HOUSE WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY PROVIDE A HOME FOR THE FOREIGN MISSION IN THE REPUBLIC.

RELATIONS BETWEEN SINGAPORE AND INDONESIA WERE SEVERED WHEN THE GOVERNMENT OF FORMER PRESIDENT SUKARNO LAUNCHED ITS CONFRONTATION POLICY AGAINST MALAYSIA. SINCE CONFRONTATION WAS CALLED OFF EARLY LAST YEAR, TRADE HAS RESUMED BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES AND OTHER LINKS RESTORED. HOWEVER, THE GOVERNMENTS ARE STILL SORTING OUT A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS BEFORE EXCHANGING DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS, AND RELY PRESENT UPON A LIAISON MISSION.

MAJOR-GENERAL SOEGIH ARTO, A FORMER CONSUL-GENERAL IN SINGAPORE, PERFORMED THE OPENING CEREMONIES, WITH THE AID OF HIS WIFE. THE GBP500,000 STERLING BUILDING HAS BEEN LYING VACANT FOR NEARLY FOUR YEARS, AND WAS LEFT UNCOMPLETED AS THE CONFRONTATION BEGAN.

IN HIS SPEECH MAJOR-GENERAL SOEGIH ARTO ASSURED SINGAPORE THAT INDONESIA WOULD SOON RESTORE DIPLOMATIC TIES.

THE 'WISMA INDONESIA'S' UNIQUE STRUCTURE AND ATTRACTIVE DESIGN IS A GREAT TOURISM ATTRACTION IN THE CITY. BELIEVED TO BE THE COSTLIEST FOREIGN REPRESENTATION BUILDING IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA, WISMA INDONESIA HAS A NIGHT-CLUB, AN EXHIBITION HALL, A LUXURIOUS HOTEL, THEATRE, BAR AND RESTAURANT. THE LIAISON MISSION HAS ALREADY MOVED IN.