U.S. wants to see Indonesia peaceful and prosperous<\/p>\n
This is the second of two articles based on a paper presented
\nby the United States Ambassador Robert S. Gelbard at the one-day
\nconference on U.S.-Indonesia relations on Dec. 6, 1999.<\/p>\n
JAKARTA: The first U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia, Merle
\nCochran, presented his credentials to President Sukarno on Dec.
\n29, 1949.<\/p>\n
In his congratulatory telegram to President Sukarno, dated
\nDec. 27, 1949, U.S. President Harry Truman wrote: \"I have greatly
\nadmired the high statesmanship with which you, Dr. Hatta and your
\ncolleagues contributed with such distinction to the splendid
\nsettlements at The Hague which have provided independence and
\nsovereignty to your country.<\/p>\n
\"The United States welcomes Indonesia into the family of
\nindependent, peace-loving nations. May God grant you and your
\npeople peace and prosperity in the years to come.\"<\/p>\n
The Secretary of State, Dean Acheson, added a separate
\nstatement which reflected America's concern at the time with
\nSoviet expansionism: \"With their record of genuine nationalism,
\nthe Indonesian people may be expected successfully to resist all
\nefforts of aggressive foreign dictatorships to subvert their
\nnewly won independence.\"<\/p>\n
American relations with Indonesia have been productive,
\nalthough we have seen some high points and some low points over
\nthe past 50 years. The U.S. and Indonesia have cooperated closely
\nin building the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
\nWe have worked together on development projects that have helped
\nIndonesia achieve remarkable results in agriculture, family
\nplanning and industrial development.<\/p>\n
The U.S. regional military presence and Indonesia's role as a
\nforce for consensus and dialogue has helped to maintain peace and
\nstability in Southeast Asia and in the sea lanes through which
\nover half of the world's trade passes. Over 2,000 Indonesians and
\nAmericans have studied in each other's country as Fulbright
\nscholars, and tens of thousands of students from both countries
\nhave conducted research and attended schools in Indonesia and the
\nU.S. through other sources of funding.<\/p>\n
We have also seen moments when our relations suffered because
\nof political differences. Those were difficult times, but I think
\nthe proof that our relationship is fundamentally strong is that
\nwe have always been able to discuss our differences openly, in a
\nspirit of mutual respect, and to re-establish close ties quickly
\nafter each setback.<\/p>\n
As the American Ambassador, I am often asked what are
\nAmerica's objectives in Indonesia. They are, in fact, the same
\nobjectives that most Indonesians have. Our national interests are
\nbest served by an Indonesia that is peaceful, stable, unified,
\nand prosperous.<\/p>\n
We consider Indonesia a valued friend in Southeast Asia, the
\ncornerstone of regional security and a key economic and trade
\npartner. We want Indonesia to recover its national balance and
\nstability and resume economic growth as soon as possible.
\nA stable, peaceful and prosperous Indonesia is what foreign
\ninvestors, including American companies, want and what the U.S.
\ngovernment supports and desires.<\/p>\n
A stable, peaceful and prosperous Indonesia would make it
\neasier to do business, would offer a large new market for
\nAmerican products, would help ensure the safe passage of cargo
\nthrough the world's busiest sea lanes and would have a positive
\ninfluence on the political stability, security and economic
\nrecovery of the entire Southeast Asian region.<\/p>\n
The path to stability, peace and economic prosperity, we are
\nconvinced, leads only through the labyrinth of democracy. Yes,
\ndemocratic elections and political struggles can be complicated
\nand messy, but they are the best way to ensure that a government
\nmakes its decisions based on the interests of the people, not
\nonly the interests of the leaders.<\/p>\n
Freedom of expression and the democratic process, are the best
\nguarantors of stability, because they provide a mechanism for
\nfree debate and orderly changes of government based on the will
\nof the people.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has changed dramatically in the past 18 months since
\nthe end of Orde Baru (New Order). The press, once tightly
\ncontrolled, is now one of the world's most free and dynamic
\nmedia; new political parties, once prohibited, are now active
\nmembers of the government and opposition; and sensitive issues,
\nlong stifled, are now openly and vigorously debated by everyone.<\/p>\n
With the democratic, open election of a new President and
\nVice-President in October, Indonesia has made one of the most
\nstunning political transformations of any nation in history.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's return to the ranks of democratic nations is an
\nevent of enormous importance, which will benefit not only the
\ncitizens of this country, but also all of the other countries of
\nthe region and the international community. The United States of
\nAmerica strongly supports Indonesia's political reforms and
\npledges its cooperation and assistance as the process of change
\ncontinues.<\/p>\n
The United States of America wants to be a true friend to
\nIndonesia. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has identified
\nIndonesia as one of four priority countries undergoing democratic
\ntransition, and she has made efforts to channel additional U.S.
\nGovernment resources to supporting Indonesia. We soon intend to
\nreopen our Consulate in Medan, to restore U.S. diplomatic
\nrepresentation to an important island where we need to be,
\nSumatra, where the first contact between Americans and
\nIndonesians occurred over 200 years ago.<\/p>\n
We intend to expand our assistance programs for Indonesia, as
\nfar as our budget resources will allow. We look forward to
\nforging a new security relationship with the Indonesian armed
\nforces in the future, too, provided that respect for democratic
\nprinciples, and the spirit of military professionalism and
\ncivilian supervision of the armed forces prevails throughout the
\nIndonesian Military (TNI).<\/p>\n
I intend to work hard to secure the resources and political
\nsupport needed for the United States to continue doing its part,
\nnow that Indonesia has done its part in establishing a
\nlegitimate, democratic government, so the world's fourth largest
\nnation can make permanent its status as the largest democracy in
\nEast Asia, and the third largest democracy in the world.<\/p>",
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