Susilo to lobby U.S. on arms<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono hopes to persuade U.S.
\nlegislators to withdraw the ban on the sale of U.S. military
\nequipment and spare parts to Indonesia, which was imposed in 1991
\ndue to the country's poor human rights record.<\/p>\n
\"Hopefully, the President can settle it as he is seen as a
\npioneer of democracy in the world's most populous Muslim nation,\"
\nMinister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono said on Friday.<\/p>\n
Susilo will depart for the U.S. on Tuesday for a three-day
\nworking visit as part of a two-week overseas trip that includes
\nJapan and Vietnam.<\/p>\n
An explanation by the President about ongoing reforms in
\nvarious areas to help improve human rights conditions here is
\nexpected to convince the U.S. Senate and Congress to end the
\nembargo.<\/p>\n
The President will also explain to U.S. legislators the
\ncountry's commitment to upholding human rights, including
\nsettling cases of gross human rights violations in East Timor in
\n1999 and the murder of two U.S. nationals on Aug. 31, 2002 in
\nPapua.<\/p>\n
Juwono said that some U.S. congresspeople would continue to
\npush the Indonesian government to ensure justice was done in
\nrelation to both cases, adding that the U.S. government had no
\nproblems with the issue.<\/p>\n
\"Congress is very influential in (U.S. government) decision-
\nmaking. (They) are being influenced by the media and non-
\ngovernmental organizations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has raised its expectations for a full resumption of
\nmilitary ties with the U.S. following the latter's decision to
\nresume the International Military Education and Training (IMET)
\nprogram with Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Susilo's visit to the U.S. will be his first since becoming
\nthe president in October 2004. He is scheduled to meet with U.S.
\nPresident George W. Bush, other top government officials
\nincluding Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Minister of
\nFinance John Snow, and a number of CEOs of giant U.S. companies
\nsuch as Microsoft, ExxonMobil, Newmont and Philip Morris.<\/p>\n
After the U.S. visit, he will fly to Vietnam for a state visit
\nand to Japan for a working visit.<\/p>\n
The President's visit to Japan is expected to come up with a
\nnumber of action plans aimed at improving business and the
\ninvestment climate in Indonesia, boost trade and investment
\nactivities between the two countries, and to seek ways to start
\nnegotiations on the planned economic partnership agreement, which
\nalso covers a free-trade area scheme.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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