American Corner opens in Yogya

YOGYAKARTA: Witnessed by Counselor of Public Affairs Charles N. Silver of the U.S. Embassy to Indonesia, Rector of Yogyakarta Muhammadiyah University (UMY) Khoiruddin Bashori inaugurated on Saturday the American Corner, an on-campus resource center.

Established jointly by the university and the U.S. Embassy, the resource center aims to provide the public with accurate, up- to-date information on various topics such as Islamic studies, foreign policy, legislation, social issues, global issues, democracy, human rights, economics and trade.

Under the cooperation, Silver said the U.S. Embassy provided books, on-line databases, computers, copiers and other hardware to the center, while the UMY provided the space and staff.

Silver added that in the long run, the Embassy also planned to bring in speakers and develop education programs for the resource center to encourage interaction and discussion between American and Indonesian scholars.

Director of the American Corner of UMY Endro Dwi Hatmanto expressed a hope that the center would help strengthen ties between Indonesia and the U.S.

Located on the second floor of the university library on Jl. Lingkar Barat, the American Corner of UMY is open to the public on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The American Corner of UMY is the second such center to be established in Indonesia, after Jakarta. -- JP