The United States on Monday welcomed the signing of a peace pact between Indonesia and rebels fighting for an independent state in the staunchly Moslem province of Aceh, dpa reported. "We commend both parties for their vision and courage to seek lasting peace for the people of Aceh," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said after the Indonesia government and the Free Aceh Movement signed an accord in Helsinki, Finland. "Successful implementation of the agreement will require steadfast commitment to peace by all parties," McCormack said in a statement. The U.S. will support monitoring of Monday's memorandum of understanding, which involves the European Union and five Southeast Asian nations, he said. Aceh, in northern Sumatra, has been a flashpoint for nearly three decades. The United States has expressed concern about human rights violations by both sides during the fighting.
