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.