Germany committed to helping RI: Envoy
JAKARTA (JP): The German government remains committed to helping Indonesia solve its worst ever monetary crisis, a visiting envoy said here yesterday.
German Deputy Foreign Minister Werner Hoyer stressed during his visit the importance for Indonesia to work closely together with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and major donor countries in solving the crisis.
The need to reach a "common position" between Indonesia, the IMF and donor countries is a critical precondition to reestablishing market confidence in the country, he said following his meeting with Indonesian top officials led by Ginandjar Kartasasmita, the new coordinating minister for economy, finance and industry.
Werner arrived in Jakarta on Thursday and also met with key officials of Bank Indonesia and IMF Asia-Pacific director Hubert Neiss before leaving the capital yesterday evening.
He was not scheduled to meet President Soeharto.
"It was a very good meeting... at the end of these days, Indonesia and the IMF will come out with a common position," he said.
He also said Germany would continue to strengthen its bilateral relations with Indonesia and promote better cooperation among Bank Indonesia, Bundesbank and the upcoming European Union central bank.
Over the past several days, Indonesia's new economic ministerial team has been busy in marathon talks with foreign emissaries to formulate measures to solve the crisis and to smooth out strained relations with the IMF and major donor countries.
The relationship between the government and the IMF have become tense due to allegations that Indonesia has not been seriously implementing an IMF-sponsored economic reform program signed in January in exchange for a US$43 billion bailout fund.
Indonesia's plan to peg the rupiah to a foreign currency at a fixed rate through a currency board system has also prompted criticism from the IMF and donor countries.
Although concrete results of the meetings between government officials and the foreign visitors have yet to be announced, there are indications that the IMF is lowering its harsh tone against Indonesia by allowing the country to prolong its monopoly over staple goods. (08)