Indonesia congratulates Bill Clinton over victory

Indonesia congratulates Bill Clinton over victory

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto congratulated yesterday
United States President Bill Clinton on his re-election, and
expressed his confidence that the two countries, as sovereign
states and friends, would overcome any differences that may
exist.

"President Soeharto said the re-election of President Clinton
shows the high trust that American people place on his
leadership," said Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono.

Speaking after a brief cabinet meeting at Bina Graha,
Moerdiono said Soeharto hoped the U.S. would use its
technological expertise for the welfare of all mankind.

"The President is of the opinion that, as sovereign states,
the U.S. and Indonesia may have differences in opinion. However,
between friends differences are normal and should be resolved in
a friendly manner," Moerdiono remarked.

President Bill Clinton was re-elected for a second four-year
presidential term in Tuesday's election.

While bilateral relations were generally good, U.S. government
and congress criticism on Indonesia has strained relations.

U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Stapleton J. Roy, watching the
election broadcast on television, said the implications for
Indonesia are good.

Roy was among several hundred guests attending a U.S. election
watch at the Hilton Hotel yesterday.

"We have some problems in our bilateral relationship, but if
our two governments work on those problems in a spirit of trying
to find good solutions, I'm confident that we can continue to
keep improving the relationship," said Roy.

"I think the United States government appreciates the
importance of this country and it wants to have a good
relationship with Indonesia," he added.

When asked about the likelihood of further pressure from
Washington on human rights issues, the ambassador said such
issues have always been a U.S. concern.

"We have been emphasizing civil rights and human rights for
220 years, we emphasize it in our own country and we emphasize in
our relationship with other countries, I don't expect that to
change," he said.

Legislator Theo Sambuaga said whether the election result gave
a Republican or Democrat victory would not greatly concern
Indonesia, but he said he was confident Clinton's re-election
would strengthen bilateral relations.

"Clinton and his administration, in a personal and a
functional sense, already know President Soeharto and other
cabinet members quite well," said Theo who represents the ruling
Golkar faction.

Common understanding is an important basis for building
awareness and mutual sensitivity between the two countries, he
said.

"They already know which areas need to be developed and
improved further, along with all the divergencies," he said.
Theo sits on the House of Representatives Commission I on foreign
affairs.

The private sector also hailed Clinton's victory. Amirudin
Saud, chairman of the Indonesian Importers Association, said he
was happy with the news.

He told The Jakarta Post that no drastic change in U.S. policy
toward Indonesia is expected, but he believes Clinton will now
place even greater importance on economic relations with Asia.

Fahmi Idris, president of the Kodel Group of companies, said
human rights, democratization and free trade are likely to remain
on the U.S. agenda.

On Clinton campaign contributions from Indonesian James Riady,
Fahmi said Riady made the donation for his own reasons. They
were in no way related to Indonesia's national interests.

"What James did had nothing to do with the government. James
Riady was doing it for his own business reasons so it was
effective for Lippo but not for the (Indonesian) government's
lobby," he told the Post. (rid/mds)

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