Clinton assistant here for Jakarta-Arkansas synergy

Clinton assistant here for Jakarta-Arkansas synergy

JAKARTA (JP): An assistant to President Bill Clinton paid a
courtesy call to President Soeharto yesterday evening during
which he discussed the progress of the sister state relationship
between the U.S. state of Arkansas and Jakarta.

"I'm here in a personal capacity to discuss the sister state
relationship between Jakarta and Arkansas," said Mark Grobmyer
after meeting with President Soeharto at his residence on Jl.
Cendana, Central Jakarta.

Accompanied by Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja, Grobmyer
said that Arkansas was looking at potential areas of cooperation
with Jakarta in the economic, banking, electronic and cultural
fields.

Governor Surjadi and Governor Jim Tucker in Seattle last
November signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing
sister state relations between Jakarta and Arkansas. The signing
of the MOU was witnessed by both Soeharto and Clinton who was
governor of Arkansas prior to his election as president.

"My main objective in coming to Indonesia is to meet with the
Governor of Jakarta and further discuss cooperation between
Jakarta and Arkansas," Grobmyer explained.

"The two have many opportunities in many areas, among them
business, investment and education," he said.

At present cooperation arrangements exist between the Harapan
Kita hospital and a children's hospital in Arkansas and research
work between the faculties of medicine at the University of
Indonesia and the University of Arkansas.

Governor Surjadi also asserted the importance of the
cooperation saying, "Jakarta is looking for opportunities, and
one of those opportunities is Arkansas."

Speaking to reporters, Grobmyer denied that he brought any
special message from President Clinton since his visit here is
strictly in a private capacity. (mds)