Gus Dur to visit S'pore next week<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (AP): Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid will
\nvisit Singapore next week, with relations between the two
\nneighbor countries beginning to heal after a recent spat,
\nSingapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
In an exclusive interview with the Associated Press, Goh said
\nhe \"received word\" that Wahid would come Monday to witness the
\nsigning of an agreement under which Singapore will buy natural
\ngas by pipeline from Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Goh didn't give further details of Wahid's visit, or say
\nwhether the two leaders would meet.<\/p>\n
Relations between the countries were strained in late November
\nwhen Wahid berated Singapore after a summit of Southeast Asian
\nleaders in Singapore.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman accused Goh of currying favor with China at the
\nexpense of Indonesia and other less-developed Southeast Asian
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman also suggested that Indonesia and nearby Malaysia
\njointly gain control of Singapore's water supply - much of which
\ncurrently comes from Malaysia - to teach tiny, prosperous
\nSingapore \"a lesson.\"<\/p>\n
The Indonesian President later said Singapore Senior Minister
\nLee Kuan Yew had rudely suggested that the beleaguered Wahid
\nleave office soon. Lee denied making the suggestion.<\/p>\n
\"The outburst was totally unexpected,\" Goh said of Wahid's
\ncriticisms. \"We knew the pressure Wahid was under, so we
\nresponded in a calm, dignified manner.\"<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman's remarks shocked Singaporeans and political
\nobservers around Southeast Asia, where leaders are known for
\nkeeping most disputes quiet in the name of regional unity.<\/p>\n
Goh said on Thursday that he was optimistic about his city-
\nstate's relations with its giant neighbor.<\/p>\n
\"Relations with Indonesia can carry on as before,\" he said.
\n\"Relations are all right.\"<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman has come under fire in recent months for what
\ncritics say is economic mismanagement and a failure to rein in
\nseparatist and political violence in the world's fourth most
\npopulous nation.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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