Differences no hitch to RI-U.S. ties: Soeharto

Differences no hitch to RI-U.S. ties: Soeharto

JAKARTA (JP): Differences in political systems should not
prevent Indonesia and the United States from enjoying cordial
ties, President Soeharto said yesterday.

"The two countries have proven that differences in social and
government systems have not obstructed us from forging, fostering
and advancing cooperation at bilateral, regional and
international levels in the interest of the prosperity and
welfare of people in the two countries and the world," Soeharto
said when receiving the new U.S. Ambassador, J. Stapleton Roy.

The President accepted the ambassador's credentials at Merdeka
Palace yesterday. On a separate occasion, the President received
credential letters from Ambassador Mustafa Kamal Kazi of
Pakistan.

In his speech before Ambassador Roy, Soeharto said that as
sovereign states, the views of the two countries may differ at
times, "but we also have basic similarities which we could
develop in building our relations."

The first principle of the state ideology Pancasila, the
"Belief in One God", is similar to the belief "In God We Trust"
that Americans hold, he said.

The Indonesian motto of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (unity in
diversity) has a similar meaning to the American motto E Pluribus
Unum, he added.

Ambassador Roy replaced Robert L. Barry, who left Jakarta in
July. A dispute in the U.S. Senate delayed the confirmation of
Roy's appointment until January.

A career diplomat with 40 years of foreign service experience,
Roy's most recent posting was as ambassador in Beijing. He also
served as ambassador to Singapore between 1984 and 1986 and has
represented the U.S. in Bangkok, Taipei, Hong Kong and Moscow.

In his introductory speech, the ambassador underlined that
relations between the two countries could only expand given the
strong commitment in Washington to this part of the world.

He pointed out that ties between the two countries have been
growing rapidly, with two-way trade exceeding US$10 billion a
year. The United States is the largest source of foreign
investment in Indonesia, if finance and the oil/gas sectors are
included, he said.

Roy said the thousands of Indonesian students studying in the
United States will bring back to Indonesia not only important new
skills to speed Indonesia's development, but also a wealth of
personal ties to the American people.

"Successful conclusion of our discussion on further sales of
F-16 aircraft will enhance both Indonesian security and the
already excellent relations between our two armed forces," he
added.

President Soeharto, in a speech welcoming Ambassador Mustafa
Kamal Kazi, said he looked forward to the visit of Pakistan Prime
Minister Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto to Indonesia next week to
further forge close relations between the two countries.

Kazi, also a career diplomat, was Pakistan ambassador to Iraq
between 1992 and 1995. He has also served at Pakistan's missions
in Stockholm, Addis Ababa, Paris and Tokyo.

Prime Minister Bhutto is scheduled to make a state visit here
between March 7 and March 9 as part of a tour that would also
include Brunei.

An earlier report from Islamabad said Bhutto would emphasize
the business opportunities now available in Pakistan after it
liberalized its economy and provides incentives for investment.

She is also expected to discuss Pakistan's dispute with India
over the Himalayan region of Kashmir and the threat Islamabad
felt from a recent Indian test-firing of the advanced medium-
range missile Prithvi-2, a Pakistan official said. (emb)