Congratulations pour in for new RI president

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Congratulatory messages from around the world poured in for Indonesia's new president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on the occasion of his inauguration on Wednesday.

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who attended the inauguration of Susilo and his Vice President Jusuf Kalla, said: "I believe he will be Indonesia's successful president. He will be able to lead this country with confidence because of the support that he got from the people directly in a democratic, independent and fair election."

Abdullah, who looked fresh and relaxed in a media briefing attended by Indonesian and Malaysian journalists on Wednesday, also expressed hope that the two countries, which are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), could maintain their bilateral relations and cooperation.

"I look forward to having good cooperation and to deepening and extending our bilateral relations between Malaysia and Indonesia, and to cooperating at the ASEAN level and other organizations of which we are members."

Russian President Vladimir Putin called Susilo by phone on Wednesday evening to congratulate him and discussed for about five minutes the possibility of military and other cooperation, Dino Pati Djalal, spokesman for Susilo, said on Wednesday.

"They discussed some possibilities for cooperation, such as bilateral military cooperation. They also discussed joint efforts to fight terrorism and transnational crimes," Dino was quoted by Detik.com as saying.

The world's youngest nation East Timor, which separated from Indonesia through a referendum in 1999 and became independent in 2002, also congratulated Susilo.

"I congratulate Susilo for his very expressive victory in the first-ever direct election and today's inauguration. East Timor looks forward to working with President Susilo and strengthening relations further," East Timor Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri told The Jakarta Post after attending the inauguration.

The European Union (EU) also called on Wednesday on Susilo to forge closer relations and urged him to stick to democratic and economic reforms.

The 25-nation bloc congratulated Susilo on his inauguration in Jakarta "as the first directly elected president" of Indonesia.

"This is a truly historic occasion," said a statement by the Dutch presidency of the EU. "The broad support of the Indonesian people has provided Mr. Yudhoyono with a strong mandate. Hopefully this will enable him to tackle Indonesia's political, social and economic challenges."

England's Queen Elizabeth also congratulated Susilo.

"The Queen expressed her warm congratulations to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, referred to the good relations between Indonesia and the United Kingdom and sent her best wishes for the future," said a media release from the British Embassy in Jakarta sent to the Post on Wednesday.