RI-U.S. relations still strong<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Senior government officials reaffirmed that ties
\nbetween the United States and Indonesia remained strong and
\nexpressed their commitment to overcome irritants which have
\nsnagged relations over the past year.<\/p>\n
Visiting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and
\nPacific Affairs Stanley Owen Roth said here yesterday that ties
\nwere sound and that the two countries had many common interests.<\/p>\n
\"The fundamentals of the relationship remain very strong, and
\nit was very clear in my meeting with Indonesian officials that
\nthey agreed that the bilateral relationship remain strong,\" Roth
\nsaid. \"Its important to both of us.\"<\/p>\n
Earlier Indonesia's ambassador to Washington Arifin Siregar
\nafter accompanying Roth to a meeting with President Soeharto
\nnoted that in the past year several complications have arisen
\nthat have placed greater stress on the relationship.<\/p>\n
He said this included a U.S. presidential fund-raising scandal
\ninvolving Lippo Group's Riady family which resulted in an
\nnegative image of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"This made people close to the Clinton administration
\nreluctant to take any steps which would be perceived as being
\naligned with Indonesia... We could see them distancing themselves
\nfrom us,\" Arifin said.<\/p>\n
Irritations heightened in June when Indonesia canceled its
\npurchase of F-16 jet fighters and withdrew from a U.S. military
\ntraining program.<\/p>\n
The decision was made after continued criticism and linkages
\nof the sale to human rights issues by the U.S. Congress.<\/p>\n
\"This became shock therapy to the Americans. It opened their
\neyes to the fact that you can't treat Indonesia that way,\" Arifin
\nclaimed.<\/p>\n
Arifin also said Soeharto could understand the congressional
\npressure Clinton faced with regards to ties with Indonesia.<\/p>\n
On Roth's meeting with Soeharto at the President's residence
\non Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta, the ambassador said \"Roth, at
\none point, said it's as if there was a crisis in RI-U.S. ties.\"<\/p>\n
Roth himself only said he had \"an excellent meeting. A
\nproductive, constructive meeting and I look forward to working
\nwith him (Soeharto) and his officials in the future\".<\/p>\n
This was Roth's first visit here since he was sworn in to his
\ncurrent post on Aug. 5.<\/p>\n
Roth, who arrived from Manila on Tuesday, was on a lightning
\none-night stop here and left for Seoul later yesterday. He will
\ncontinue on to Tokyo before returning to Washington.<\/p>\n
Speaking to journalists, Roth said apart from meeting
\nIndonesian officials like Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas,
\nhe also met with several non-governmental organizations.<\/p>\n
Washington's continued concern over human and labor rights
\nissues was also made evident when Roth brought up the issue in
\ntalks with officials here.<\/p>\n
\"Needless to say we continue to have concerns over the labor
\nsituation in Indonesia and we are continuing to pursue those
\nconcerns,\" Roth told journalists.<\/p>\n
The case involving jailed labor leader Muchtar Pakpahan was
\nalso discussed.<\/p>\n
\"His case certainly came up in my discussions. This is not the
\nfirst time and it will not be the last time that the United
\nStates raises the issue. It's part of our overall commitment to
\nseek progress on human rights issues,\" he remarked.<\/p>\n
Recounting the events which transpired after the cancellation
\nof the F-16 deal, Roth claimed: \"There has been no negative
\nspillover effect as a result of it.\"<\/p>\n
Arifin earlier said American businesspeople were worried over
\nthe likelihood of a backlash over Indonesia's cancellation of the
\nF-16s in response to continued congressional criticism on human
\nrights.<\/p>\n
But Roth yesterday brushed off the concerns.<\/p>\n
\"In terms of further retaliation I think there is an
\nunderstanding that this was done for precisely the reasons that
\nPresident Soeharto indicated in his message to President Clinton.
\nIt was done to remove a potential irritant in the bilateral
\nrelationship. It was not done as punishment and it was not
\nindicative of future steps to come,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The strong economic ties are reflected in trade between the
\ntwo countries which, according to Arifin, stood at US$12.2
\nbillion with a $4 billion surplus for Indonesia in 1996.<\/p>\n
U.S. non-oil and gas investment here is $13 billion, while in
\nthe oil and gas sector, 80 percent of all investment comes from
\nAmerican companies. (prb\/mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-us-relations-still-strong-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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