Indonesia to present long wish list to Powell<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government has prepared a long wish list to
\ndeliver to the U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who will be
\nhere on a three-day visit until Sunday.<\/p>\n
The list covers many areas, ranging from restoring military
\ncooperation to settling a commercial dispute involving the Karaha
\nBodas power project.<\/p>\n
Yet, Powell has explicitly said that his working visit to
\nJakarta was mainly aimed \"at boosting cooperation against
\nterrorism\".<\/p>\n
Last Week, U.S. President George W. Bushed called President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri telling her about the planned visit of
\nPowell to Jakarta, and his wish to discuss the terrorism issue.<\/p>\n
Jakarta is the last leg of Powell's tour of six countries in
\nSoutheast Asia that is aimed at garnering support for the war
\nagainst terrorism, which started last year after the Sept. 11,
\n2001, attacks on the U.S.<\/p>\n
Powell was slated to arrive in Jakarta late Thursday night to
\nhold a series of talks with Indonesian officials, including
\nPresident Megawati and a number of Cabinet ministers.<\/p>\n
In an interview published on Thursday in the Far Eastern
\nEconomic Review, Powell said the U.S. administration considered
\nthat Indonesia had been working with them effectively.<\/p>\n
\"Initially, right after Sept. 11, the Indonesians ... had to
\nstep carefully, but I think increasingly they understand the
\ndanger in terrorism and are working with us in a very, very
\neffective way,\" Powell said.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said
\nthat Jakarta would encourage the Bush administration's intention
\nof restoring full military ties between the two countries.<\/p>\n
\"The Bush administration clearly understands that Indonesia
\nneeds a strong military and police force to deal with the various
\nconflicts that have flared up around the country, along with
\ntransnational crime,\" Hassan said.<\/p>\n
The U.S. suspended military ties in 1999 following the East
\nTimor mayhem, which was allegedly ignited by Indonesian Military-
\nbacked militias.<\/p>\n
Since last year, the ties have been gradually warming up,
\nalthough only non-combat military equipment and training for the
\npolice may be provided as yet.<\/p>\n
Hassan claimed that the ties were expected to be fully
\nrestored in November this year, following an agreement by the
\nU.S. senate subcommittee to do so.<\/p>\n
Indonesia will also request Powell's assistance regarding the
\nlong-standing commercial dispute between state-owned oil and gas
\ncompany Pertamina and Karaha Bodas Co. (KBC).<\/p>\n
The federal district court in Delaware has ruled that
\nPertamina must pay some US$261 million to KBC for stopping work
\non a power project located in Garut, West Java, in 1997 in the
\nwake of the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
Another matter that will be raised with Powell is the fate of
\nthe detained Indonesian Agus Budiman, whose parents have been
\nseeking information about him.<\/p>\n
Antara reported that Agus' father, Abron Ishak, had asked the
\nIndonesian foreign ministry to set up a meeting as Agus should
\nhave been deported to Indonesia by now.<\/p>\n
Agus was put on trial for alleged involvement in the Sept. 11
\nattacks, but the court recently freed him of all charges.<\/p>\n
\"I really want to see Powell because I want to know what has
\nhappened to my son. The immigration authorities have decided to
\ndeport him, but have not done so yet,\" Abron said.<\/p>\n
Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa said
\nthat the government would raise the issue with Powell.<\/p>\n
During his short three-day visit, Powell is scheduled to meet
\nMinister Hassan on Friday, before meeting President Megawati.<\/p>\n
As military ties will be the main topic of his visit, a
\nmeeting with Coordinating Minister for Political and Security
\nAffairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has also been penciled in.<\/p>\n
Powell is also slated to meet several Indonesian economics
\nministers, including Coordinating Minister for the Economy
\nDorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-to-present-long-wish-list-to-powell-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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