Indonesia ready to tackle economic problems: Abdurrahman

Indonesia ready to tackle economic problems: Abdurrahman

PARIS (Dow Jones): Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid will
give priority to economic matters next year, he told French daily
Les Echos in an interview Thursday.

"The hardest is behind us," he said about political conditions
in the country, "I can assure you that next year, we can devote
all our time to the economy."

Abdurrahman said he isn't surprised that foreign investors
have deserted the country. He said four conditions must be
fulfilled for them to invest in Indonesia: negotiations with
separatist provinces of Aceh and Irian Jaya, political stability,
reform of administration and respect of the law.

Commenting on armed forces sent to the Aceh and Irian Jaya
regions, Abdurrahman said those will be reduced at the beginning
of next year, and provinces will gain more powers. But he
declined to say which provinces would be autonomous first. "We
will watch that the regions that are the first to be ready are
served first," he said. "But we have to watch that Parliament
doesn't mess with our plans," he added.

Abdurrahman also pleaded with rich Indonesian citizens of
Chinese origin to invest their money in the country, instead of
abroad.

Commenting on Indonesia's relationship with the International
Monetary Fund (IMF), Abdurrahman said the two parties are working
together, and the relationship is "very good".

"Nobody is satisfied," he said, "we are not satisfied with the
IMF, and they are not satisfied with us, but we work together."

The IMF last week postponed the dispersal of a US$270 million
loan to Indonesia because of concern about the slow pace of
economic reform.

French airports company Aeroports de Paris, or ADP, is a
candidate to buy Jakarta's airport. But Wahid said another
foreign company is in the running.

"If ADP's competitors win Jakarta airport, the French will get
Medan, on Sumatra island," he said, "and if it's the contrary,
the others will get Medan."