JAKARTA, Aug. 14 (Xinhuanet) -- The head of an international mission monitoring a peace deal to be signed between the Indonesian government and separatist rebels in Aceh on Sunday called on both sides to spurn violence.

    The agreement to be signed on Aug. 15 in Helsinki is intended to end nearly three decades of bloodshed between government forcesand the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

    The European Union and five members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations were invited by the Indonesian government to help monitor implementation of the accord, the Jakarta Post daily quoted Peter Feith, head of the joint EU-ASEAN Initial Monitoring Presence as saying.

    "I'd like to conclude by urging both parties to show maximum restraint, to desist from the use of violence and the use of forceand to cease all offensive operations," he told reporters after arriving at Banda Aceh's airport.

    "That will be the best base for starting the program of decommissioning and disarmament," he said.

    Feith was scheduled to hold talks with local government authorities. His arrival followed the previous arrival of 50 members of the monitoring team in Aceh.

    Feith said the EU-ASEAN team would help monitor implementation of the peace deal. "We will do that in full respect of the territorial integrity of the republic of Indonesia," he said. Enditem