Foreign policy on East Timor

Foreign policy on East Timor

The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Washington, D.C.,
would like to convey its appreciation to those who have shown a
keen interest and empathy toward the struggle of Indonesia's
diplomats abroad, detailed in the article Clinton, RI opposed on
East Timor (Jan. 23). The article focused on Indonesia's foreign
policy and diplomacy, particularly in reference to the bilateral
relationship between Indonesia and the United States.

Dewi Fortuna Anwar's observation that the United States may
prove to be another obstacle blocking Indonesia's plan to take
the issue of East Timor off the United Nation's agenda is very
interesting. An explanation may lie in the pressure that
President Clinton will undoubtedly face in his second term
regarding the issue of campaign contributions by an Indonesian
businessman to the National Democratic Committee.

The issue of the contributions has been exploited by non-
governmental organizations active in human rights and by a
certain segment of the liberal U.S. media to pressure the Clinton
administration to strengthen its position towards Indonesia on
the issue of human rights in general and East Timor in
particular. This case has also been used by those seeking to
reform the campaign financing laws and further politicized by
those who would seek to discredit the Clinton Administration.

We hope and trust that the present politicized atmosphere will
not alter current cordial relations between Indonesia and the
United States and we look forward to continued good relations
between the two countries. Our strong bilateral relationship with
the United States should not be defined by narrow interests, but
rather, must be based on mutual interests, such as the
maintenance of stability in South East Asia and the continued
expansion of economic and trade relations. Indonesia has been
recognized as one of the ten Big Emerging Markets (BEM) for the
U.S. Our hope is that the U.S. will continue down the path of
cooperation, not confrontation as we continue to encounter some
of our inevitable differences.

BUDIMAN DARMOSUTANTO

Deputy Chief of Mission

Indonesian Embassy

Washington, D.C.