Indonesian legislators meet U.S. lawmakers

WASHINGTON (JP): A three-member delegation from the Indonesian House of Representatives met with United States lawmakers here in an attempt to build closer relations and provide more factual information about developments in their country.

"Through dialog, we hope that they will understand the situation in Indonesia and be willing to help," Sazili Marjani told reporters in Washington Thursday.

Sazili said he told U.S. lawmakers of the complexity of Indonesia's problems.

"They expressed their interest in Indonesia, although they are more focused on the problems in their own country," he said.

Another House member, Marwah Daud Ibrahim, said that the U.S. Congress expected a lot from the new government of President B.J. Habibie.

"They are glad to hear some information about the changing government directly from us," she said.

Sazili said the delegation has also urged the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to disburse more money to Indonesia. "We thanked them on the recently approved loan payment," he said.

Indonesia will fulfill all the commitments it made to the international institutions, he said adding that "We, the House of Representatives, will oversee the use of the funds," he said.

The delegation also met with officials from the U.S. State Department, the National Security Council and some non- governmental organizations.