Habibie wants U.S. lobby job

Habibie wants U.S. lobby job

JAKARTA: Former president B.J. Habibie has suggested that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono appoint him as a special envoy to lobby the United States Congress during a meeting of a council of the United Nations later this year.

Habibie would also hold meetings with a number of U.S. legislators, said director of the Habibie Center Watik Pratiknya after a meeting with the President on Wednesday.

"The president has welcomed Pak Habibie's offer. We will discuss the details during a meeting in March," he told reporters, saying that U.S. legislators play an important role in the decision-making process in the U.S.

Watik said that the President had expressed the hope that Habibie would be able to further improve the country's relations with the U.S., which have frequently been strained. The U.S. still imposes an embargo on the supply of military equipment to Indonesia. -- JP