Bush invites Megawati to Washington D.C.

JAKARTA (JP): United States President George W. Bush has invited President Megawati Soekarnoputri to Washington next month for talks on how the U.S. could help the new Indonesian government, a senior U.S. official said here on Saturday.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick said that Megawati graciously accepted the invitation.

"The visit would be the only meeting Bush will have at the time of the United Nations' General Assembly meeting.

"(The meeting) will give the two of them a chance to talk face to face about the agenda that I hope we have launched today," he said in a media conference here.

According to sources, Megawati's visit to the U.S. will be part of her first state overseas tour in which she plans to visit Tokyo and Washington, and attend the United Nations' General Assembly meeting in New York.

Zoellick said that Bush commended Megawati for her handling of the transition from president Abdurrahman Wahid and the selection of a "first-rate" Cabinet.

Zoellick, the most senior foreign official to visit Jakarta since Megawati took office, said that Bush had also asked him to listen to the suggestions of Megawati's new team about how the U.S. could be of support.

Earlier in the day, he held meetings with Megawati and some of her new Cabinet members, including Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda and Minister of Industry and Trade Rini MS Soewandi.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro- Jakti and Minister of Finance Boediono were scheduled to meet Zoellick for dinner later in the day.

He reasserted the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) commitment to working with Megawati and her team to push for the agreement on a letter of intent (LoI).

"So that the disbursement (of the IMF loan) can flow, so that the Paris Club negotiations in restructuring sovereign debts can proceed as planned on Sept. 10 and 11," Zoellick said.

An agreement by the official Paris Club in April last year to reschedule $5.8 billion of Indonesia's debt is contingent on an active IMF program.

Zoellick indicated the possibility of restoring some "basic military-to-military contacts" between Indonesia and the U.S. which, he said, would focus on critical areas of reform and the "professionalization" of the Indonesian Military.

The U.S severed most of its military ties with Indonesia after Indonesian troops were accused of implication in the rampage that followed East Timor's vote for independence from Jakarta in August 1999.

Zoellick said that his visit to Indonesia would be followed by other U.S. senior officials to ensure the continuity of cooperation.

"We hope that Secretary Powell will also be looking at the possibility of a visit to Indonesia in the near future," he said, referring to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Separately, Bush announced in Washington on Friday (Saturday in Indonesia) that he had chosen Ralph Leo Boyce, a senior career diplomat, as the new U.S. ambassador to Indonesia to replace Robert S. Gelbard.

Boyce has served as deputy assistant secretary of state for Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands since August 1998. His appointment was subject to the approval of the U.S. Senate.(tnt)