Indonesia's vice president said he believed the current talks with Aceh separatist leaders will bring an end to decades of armed conflict in Indonesia's tsunami-hit province, a report said.

Yusuf Kalla, in an interview published by the Bisnis Indonesia newspaper, said he believed more meetings were needed with the exiled leaders of the separatist Free Aceh Movement, or GAM, but peace would eventually be reached.

"At present, the GAM has already vented their emotion, so, I am optimistic that this matter can be settled," Kalla said in the interview.

Indonesian officials met with rebel leaders and had their first talks for 20 months in Finland last week, in the hope of establishing a truce to protect a huge humanitarian effort to help survivors of the December 26 disaster.

Both sides have said a degree of understanding was reached in the discussions near Helsinki, but a clearer framework was needed for progress towards future dialogue.

Kalla, who has also been involved in peace efforts to resolve communal violence between Muslims and Christians in other parts of Indonesia, said that in his experience, more dialogue was needed with the rebels.

"I estimate that the talks with the GAM can take place two or three more times," he said.

Kalla said that although every negotiation involved "give and take", there were two aspects that remained unchangeable at the base of the peace talks. "These are that there will be no unconditional surrender and they [the rebels] will not gain independence," Kalla said.

He reiterated that the government will keep its offer of a general amnesty, but added that those guilty of "criminal offences" will still have to face justice. "That there will be an amnesty is certain... but not if they are linked to criminal [acts.]"

The Free Aceh Movement began its campaign in 1976. It accused Jakarta of plundering resources in the province. More than 12,000 people have died in the struggle.