Australia, RI share common vision

Australia, RI share common vision

JAKARTA (JP): Despite different cultural backgrounds,
Indonesia and Australia share a common vision on which to build
their relations, State Minister of Research and Technology B.J.
Habibie said yesterday.

"Cooperation between Indonesia and Australia is being built on
a healthy foundation, that is a shared vision about the next
century," Habibie, who just returned from a successful 10-day
visit Down Under, told reporters yesterday.

"We both share the same sense of responsibility although our
cultures are different. Theirs is rooted in Europe, ours is the
Indonesian culture.

"But for Indonesia, cultural differences do not pose a
problem. We live by the motto of Bhineka Tunggal Ika (Unity
within Diversity), and diversity has never been a weak factor for
Indonesia. On the contrary it has been a source of inspiration."

The minister made the remarks before meeting President
Soeharto at Merdeka Palace to brief the head of state about the
results of his May 21-May 31 trip that took him to Perth,
Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra.

Progress

Habibie said his visit, including his meetings with Prime
Minister Paul Keating and other senior officials, put relations
between Indonesia and Australia "one step further ahead".

He viewed the trip as "very timely" because of the changing
vision of the Australian people, from one that was more Europe-
oriented, to one that is more Asian-oriented.

"If 10 years ago the Australian people saw Asia, in particular
Indonesia, as a military and political threat, now they see
Asians, in particular Indonesia, as partners, and the region as a
potential and growing market."

In 1984, relations between the two countries took a turn for
the worse following the publication of articles critical of
President Soeharto. The first move Jakarta made was to cancel a
planned visit by Habibie, then already serving in the cabinet.

Not until 11 years later did Habibie make the visit, this one
at the invitation of Minister of Industry, Science and Technology
Peter Cook.

In Canberra, responding to a question at a parliamentary
hearing, Cook yesterday described the visit as "outstandingly
successful".

The Australian embassy in Jakarta reported that Cook said the
visit was important because of Habibie's various positions in the
Indonesian government and strategic industries.

Habibie and Cook signed a memorandum of understanding to
implement new arrangements under the Australia-Indonesia
Committee of Science and Technology.

Habibie yesterday denied any knowledge of the possibility that
his trip to Australia was a prelude to a planned visit by
President Soeharto as has been speculated by the Australian
press.

"I don't know," he said when asked if the President would soon
travel to Australia. "My mission to Australia was not to prepare
a visit by the President."

"My mission was to sell planes that I made," he added.

Besides serving as a cabinet minister, Habibie is also the
chief executive officer of IPTN (the state-owned aircraft
manufacturer) and of PT PAL (state shipbuilding company), the
chairman of the Agency for the Assessment and Application of
Technology and of the board supervising strategic industries, as
well as holding a host of other positions.

Soeharto

Habibie also underlined the answer he gave to Australian
journalists during a press conference in Canberra about whether
he knew if Soeharto would remain in office after his current term
ends 1998.

"As a fighter, I believe the President, Pak Harto, in whatever
condition, would do it if the people ask him to."

Habibie also had praise for Indonesia's ambassador to
Australia, Sabam Siagian, whom he credited with fostering the
good relations between Indonesia and the Australian government
and people.

"It was because of Sabam's efforts that the view of the
Australian people of Indonesia changed, from that of a threat to
that of a potential business partner."

He also credited the ambassador, who is about to end his term
in Canberra after four years, with the thorough preparations that
ensured the success of his visit. (emb)