Indonesia congratulates Bill Clinton over victory<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto congratulated yesterday
\nUnited States President Bill Clinton on his re-election, and
\nexpressed his confidence that the two countries, as sovereign
\nstates and friends, would overcome any differences that may
\nexist.<\/p>\n
\"President Soeharto said the re-election of President Clinton
\nshows the high trust that American people place on his
\nleadership,\" said Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono.<\/p>\n
Speaking after a brief cabinet meeting at Bina Graha,
\nMoerdiono said Soeharto hoped the U.S. would use its
\ntechnological expertise for the welfare of all mankind.<\/p>\n
\"The President is of the opinion that, as sovereign states,
\nthe U.S. and Indonesia may have differences in opinion. However,
\nbetween friends differences are normal and should be resolved in
\na friendly manner,\" Moerdiono remarked.<\/p>\n
President Bill Clinton was re-elected for a second four-year
\npresidential term in Tuesday's election.<\/p>\n
While bilateral relations were generally good, U.S. government
\nand congress criticism on Indonesia has strained relations.<\/p>\n
U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Stapleton J. Roy, watching the
\nelection broadcast on television, said the implications for
\nIndonesia are good.<\/p>\n
Roy was among several hundred guests attending a U.S. election
\nwatch at the Hilton Hotel yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"We have some problems in our bilateral relationship, but if
\nour two governments work on those problems in a spirit of trying
\nto find good solutions, I'm confident that we can continue to
\nkeep improving the relationship,\" said Roy.<\/p>\n
\"I think the United States government appreciates the
\nimportance of this country and it wants to have a good
\nrelationship with Indonesia,\" he added.<\/p>\n
When asked about the likelihood of further pressure from
\nWashington on human rights issues, the ambassador said such
\nissues have always been a U.S. concern.<\/p>\n
\"We have been emphasizing civil rights and human rights for
\n220 years, we emphasize it in our own country and we emphasize in
\nour relationship with other countries, I don't expect that to
\nchange,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Legislator Theo Sambuaga said whether the election result gave
\na Republican or Democrat victory would not greatly concern
\nIndonesia, but he said he was confident Clinton's re-election
\nwould strengthen bilateral relations.<\/p>\n
\"Clinton and his administration, in a personal and a
\nfunctional sense, already know President Soeharto and other
\ncabinet members quite well,\" said Theo who represents the ruling
\nGolkar faction.<\/p>\n
Common understanding is an important basis for building
\nawareness and mutual sensitivity between the two countries, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"They already know which areas need to be developed and
\nimproved further, along with all the divergencies,\" he said.
\nTheo sits on the House of Representatives Commission I on foreign
\naffairs.<\/p>\n
The private sector also hailed Clinton's victory. Amirudin
\nSaud, chairman of the Indonesian Importers Association, said he
\nwas happy with the news.<\/p>\n
He told The Jakarta Post that no drastic change in U.S. policy
\ntoward Indonesia is expected, but he believes Clinton will now
\nplace even greater importance on economic relations with Asia.<\/p>\n
Fahmi Idris, president of the Kodel Group of companies, said
\nhuman rights, democratization and free trade are likely to remain
\non the U.S. agenda.<\/p>\n
On Clinton campaign contributions from Indonesian James Riady,
\nFahmi said Riady made the donation for his own reasons. They
\nwere in no way related to Indonesia's national interests.<\/p>\n
\"What James did had nothing to do with the government. James
\nRiady was doing it for his own business reasons so it was
\neffective for Lippo but not for the (Indonesian) government's
\nlobby,\" he told the Post. (rid\/mds)<\/p>\n
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