Soeharto and Howard hit it off<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Australian Prime Minister John Howard and
\nPresident Soeharto struck a cordial note in their first formal
\nmeeting yesterday, with both men expressing satisfaction and
\naffirming ties between the two countries.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono, after
\nyesterday's tete-a-tete at Merdeka Palace, said the 90-minute
\nmeeting was a chance \"to get to know each other personally\" and
\nallowed them to find their common ground.<\/p>\n
\"The two leaders said today's meeting was extremely useful and
\nshould be followed in the future by similar talks,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, Howard told journalists that he was also pleased
\nwith the meeting and expressed his gratitude at the hospitality
\nprovided by Soeharto.<\/p>\n
He said the visit allowed the two leaders \"to affirm the
\nimportance of the relationship\".<\/p>\n
Howard further demonstrated the newfound rapport, saying that
\nif needed, \"it would be very easy to talk with him on the
\ntelephone to exchange ideas and attitudes.\"<\/p>\n
Many analysts viewed the close personal bond between Soeharto
\nand Howard's predecessor, Paul Keating, as the foundation of the
\ngrowing empathy between Jakarta and Canberra.<\/p>\n
Keating asserted in 1994 that no country was more important to
\nAustralia than Indonesia. He proved this by making six visits
\nhere as prime minister. The rapport was often perceived as the
\nglue which kept relations close, despite the threat of some
\nthorny bilateral issues.<\/p>\n
Yesterday's meeting took place on the same date that Soeharto
\nand Keating held a mini-summit in Bali exactly a year ago.<\/p>\n
Moediono said that both leaders during yesterday's meeting
\nagreed that more exchanges and meetings at all levels between the
\ntwo countries should be held.<\/p>\n
While Howard has not emulated the adoration toward Indonesia
\nthat his predecessor openly displayed, he still stressed the
\nsignificant and fundamental importance Indonesia holds to
\nAustralia.<\/p>\n
Human rights<\/p>\n
His attention towards Indonesia is evident in that his three-
\nday visit here is his first overseas trip as prime minister.<\/p>\n
He is scheduled to end his visit today and depart for Tokyo.<\/p>\n
While much of the talks with Soeharto focussed on economic
\nissues, Howard said he did raise the question of human rights.<\/p>\n
However, he stressed that such a general discussion should not
\novershadow the overall importance of the ties. \"I made a
\ndeliberate decision in coming here not to get involved in the
\ndomestic political debate in Indonesia,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Australia's criticism of the human rights situation here and
\nthe issue of East Timor have often aggravated relations with
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Attending a luncheon with Indonesian businessmen later in the
\nafternoon, Howard fended off questions on why his government had
\nreaffirmed defense ties with the United States while the previous
\ngovernment under Keating had just signed a security agreement
\nwith Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Howard maintained that international relations should not be
\nviewed as a series of choices of one over the other.<\/p>\n
\"I have never seen Australia's relations with the rest of the
\nworld as being a series of choices to be made between whether you
\nrelate to the Asia-Pacific region, the United States or Europe,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He argued that when his government took over six months ago,
\nit wanted to dispel the \"foolish notion that some people
\npropagated that in some way, if you have good relations with the
\nUnited States, you can't possibly have good relations with the
\npeople of the Asia-Pacific region.\"<\/p>\n
Howard then asserted that he saw Australia's ties with this
\nregion and other parts of the world as part of an integrated
\npackage of relationships. (alo\/mds)<\/p>\n
Dalai Lama -- Page 6<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soeharto-and-howard-hit-it-off-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }