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)