FAREWELL ALATAS: Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda prays beside the casket of Ali Alatas, who served as foreign minister and presidential adviser, at the deceased’s home in Jakarta on Thursday night. (JP/J. Adiguna)

Tributes quickly poured in from national and foreign leaders for former Indonesian foreign minister Ali Alatas, who died at the age of 76 from a heart attack in Singapore on Thursday.

They said Indonesia had lost a well-respected diplomat who had made outstanding contributions to building peace and security in the world.

Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda expressed his deep condolences for the passing of his predecessor, whom he said had done much to help promote world peace.

"It's a great loss for our country. He dedicated his life through his profession as a diplomat," Hassan said on the sidelines of the Bali Democracy Forum in Nusa Dua, Bali.

He said Alatas had not only once been his superior, but also his mentor. "I learned much and was given many chances by him. He acted as a father."

Hassan praised Alatas as a force for peace in Southeast Asia, saying that he had "contributed extensively to the attainment of peace and stability in the region".

Senior legislator Theo L. Sambuaga also mourned the death of Alatas, describing him as a "fighting diplomat and diplomat fighter" who steadfastly fought for Indonesia's national interests in international forums.

"It was proven when Indonesia was being confronted with the East Timor problem; he persistently struggled for the country's positive image overseas," Theo said, referring to the carnage dished out by an Indonesian military-backed militia in East Timor during the build up to an independence referendum in 1999.

As foreign minister from 1988 to 1999, Alatas was the public face abroad of strongman Soeharto's regime before it collapsed in 1998. Alatas continued as foreign minister under Soeharto's successor, B.J. Habibie, who called for a 1999 United Nations-administered referendum in which East Timor opted for independence from Indonesia.

Praises for Alatas also came from many other countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Britain, the United States and Australia.

Singapore called Alatas a well-respected statesman who had believed in regional cooperation.

"He was a well-respected statesman in Indonesia, ASEAN and the rest of the international community. He was a firm believer of regional cooperation and a tireless promoter of ASEAN. He played a crucial role in drafting the ASEAN Charter," a statement from Singapore said as quoted by AFP.

The charter, which commits the 10 ASEAN-member countries to promote democracy and human rights, will be enacted starting next week.

Visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Alatas was a statesman who had done much to strengthen Indonesia-Malaysia relations.

"I was really shocked when I heard the news about Mr. Ali Alatas' death in Singapore. He was a statesman especially for Malaysia because of his role in developing sound bilateral relations between Indonesia and Malaysia," Badawi said in Jakarta prior to the opening of the 37th Session of the Malaysia-Indonesia General Border Committee.

Alatas continuously promoted ASEAN's efforts to strengthen brotherhood and friendship among member countries, which helped develop the region into a regional power, he added.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd paid tribute to Alatas for his ability to improve often testy ties between the two nations.

"Mr. Alatas contributed both vision and hard work to strengthening the political, economic and personal links between our two countries," Rudd was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Cambodia's information minister Khieu Kanharith said, "he (Alatas) was a good friend to us," adding that he had done much to help bring peace and national reconciliation to Cambodia after decades of civil war and rule under the Khmer Rouge.

U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Cameron Hume said he was "saddened" by the death of Alatas, praising the former diplomat as a "determined advocate for peace and stability around the world".

"Americans will remember Ali Alatas as a friend of the United States and a proponent of good relations between our countries," he said.

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