Howard and Soeharto upbeat on bilateral ties

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto said yesterday that social, cultural and political differences should not hamper the friendship and cooperation between Indonesia and Australia.

"Differences should not become an obstacle for the development of a feeling of friendship and cooperation between the two countries," Soeharto said yesterday when hosting a dinner for visiting Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

Soeharto said it was natural for a bilateral relationship to have highs and lows.

Soeharto held a dinner at the State Palace for Howard who arrived here yesterday for a three-day visit. This is Howard's first overseas trip since replacing Paul Keating as Prime Minister earlier this year.

Howard was originally scheduled to visit last month but he postponed the trip because his wife was ill.

Soeharto said the fact that Howard chose Indonesia for his first trip abroad signified his great attention toward the bilateral relationship.

Ties between the two countries have gone through phases of cordiality and friction over the past few years, marked primarily by Canberra's frequent sharp criticism of Indonesia's human rights record.

Last year, Indonesia withdrew its ambassadorial candidate, H.B.L. Mantiri, to Canberra because of an uproar in the Australian media over a statement he made concerning the 1991 Dili incident.

Soeharto, in his address, said that Indonesia greatly emphasizes its relations with other countries and thus upholds the principals of non-interference and respect for sovereignty.

On national development, Soeharto said that while there was great concentration on economics, Indonesia had not neglected social development.

"We continually strive to improve our legal mechanisms and awareness of the law to support a democratic political life," the president said, adding that economic and social development must proceed together if true fulfillment of human rights was to be achieved.

"A citizen will not be able to realize his right for constructive and responsible expression if he doesn't get a proper education. Freedom to form labor unions will also have no meaning if there is much unemployment," Soeharto said.

He argued that this did not mean that civil and political rights were subservient to economic targets.

"Economic, social and cultural rights go hand in hand with civil and political rights. They are a unity that cannot be divided," he said.

Prime Minister Howard in his address stressed that any disagreements that emerged should be seen in the overriding mutual interest of the two countries.

"We are very different and we cannot always expect to see eye to eye. No country can be asked to deny its history, principles or culture," he said.

He said the two countries should support each other, stating that their relationship enjoyed bipartisan support in Australia.

"That our relationship has become far more richer and so diverse reflects the natural compliment of our national interests," he said.

Howard then pledged closer cooperation in future and said that close economic ties would be harnessed further.

Earlier in the day, the two leaders met briefly in Soeharto's work room at Merdeka Palace.

On the Soeharto-Howard meeting, Indonesian Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono said the two leaders seemed very happy to finally be able to meet.

Howard is scheduled to meet Soeharto this morning, then address the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. He is also scheduled to meet Minister of Defense and Security Gen. Edi Sudradjat and State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie. (mds)

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