Equal partnerships in int'l cooperation vital: Soeharto

Equal partnerships in int'l cooperation vital: Soeharto

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto underlined yesterday the
importance of equal partnership in international cooperation, in
which countries could interact on a balance footing, despite
underlying differences in perception.

"Partnerships can work only if there is mutual understanding,
without one belittling the other," said Soeharto, as quoted by
Alwi Dahlan during their meeting.

Alwi and other members of the United States Committee of the
Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kikas) paid a
courtesy call to Soeharto explaining their activities, including
efforts to introduce a better understanding of Indonesia to the
American public.

Alwi, who is on the organization's advisory board, was
accompanied by its chairman, Tony Agus Ardie, Secretary-General
Chris Walean and A.R. Ramly, an advisor to the board and former
ambassador to Washington.

Soeharto said that both the developed and developing countries
have their respective strengths and that each should thus
complement the other.

He also stressed the importance of instilling in children from
an early age the need to establish mutual understanding among
people. The campaign should not be confined to adults only, he
said, especially if the adults already have certain interests
such as business.

He said that mutual understanding could help foster relations
among people as well as a realization that despite differences,
there are still many areas in which to cooperate in.

"We hope there is no need for others to intervene in another
nation's affairs. Foreign countries, just like us, should not
impose their demands on others," Soeharto said.

Soeharto then commended Kikas for its work through educational
institutions in the United States in increasing American youths'
awareness about Indonesia.

Tony Agus Ardie also reported to President Soeharto the
results of an essay writing contest about Indonesia organized for
high school students in the United States. The students are
taking part in Indonesian studies under the Scholastic Ambassador
Program for Indonesia launched in the U.S. in the middle of last
September.

Under the program, posters and teaching guidelines on
Indonesia, including textbooks entitled Pancasila: A Brief
Introduction and Introducing Indonesia: Bhineka Tunggal Ika, were
distributed to around 80,000 high school teachers throughout the
U.S.

"We received 848 articles written by students from various
states. Six of them were chosen as the winners, who represent New
York, Florida, Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa and California states,"
Tony said.

The scholastic ambassador education program was launched by an
Indonesian business mission to the U.S. last September led by
State Minister for Production and Distribution Hartarto.

The prize offered under the contest was a two-week visit to
Indonesia, not only for the student winners, but also their
parents and the respective teachers who conduct the Indonesian
studies.

He said that the writing contest on Indonesia was conducted
last November at the suggestion of President Soeharto when he met
with the sponsors of the scholastic program in Washington last
October.

He added that the contest winners, each accompanied by their
parents and a teacher, are now in Indonesia on a two-week visit
sponsored by Kikas and the New York-based American-Indonesian
Chamber of Commerce.

The students, their parents and teachers who arrived here last
Friday were divided into three six-member groups. The groups
separately visited Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi and will
assemble in Jakarta on Friday to attend Indonesia's independence
celebrations, including the plenary session of the House of
Representatives, at which President Soeharto will deliver a state
address.

They will depart Jakarta on Monday for Bali before they return
home next Wednesday.

According to Tony, the scholastic program is a long-term
project designed to strengthen cooperation and mutual
understanding between the two countries.

"Future U.S. government leaders and businessmen will come from
among the high school students," he said, in stressing the
importance of the Indonesian studies under the scholastic
program. (vin/mds)