Mega condemns attacks on U.S.

Mega condemns attacks on U.S.

JAKARTA (JP): President Megawati Soekarnoputri condemned on
Wednesday the "barbaric and indiscriminate" terrorist attacks on
the United States, underlining the need for international
cooperation to fight terrorism.

In a message to President George W. Bush, Megawati expressed
her deepest condolences and sympathy to the government and the
people of the United States.

She also expressed "great shock" over the tragic attacks on
New York's World Trade Center and the Pentagon just outside
Washington.

"The Indonesian government condemns this brutal and
indiscriminate attack that has resulted in a great number of
victims among innocent people ... we express our deepest
condolences and sympathy to the U.S. government and its people,
especially to the bereaved," she said.

She said the attacks "underlined the need for international
cooperation to fight terrorism, in which Indonesia was prepared
to cooperate to face any acts of terrorism."

The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta thanked the government for the
protection of its mission, saying that the U.S. "strongly hopes
to intensify cooperation with Indonesia in the fight against
international terrorism."

Megawati's planned trip to the U.S. now hangs in the balance,
as the government is still waiting for information from the host
country on security conditions there.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said Jakarta would
consult Washington in the next two days on whether or not
Megawati could push through with her visit scheduled for Sept. 19
to Sept. 25.

Correcting a report by The Jakarta Post, Hassan said on
Wednesday there had not yet been any discussion as to whether the
trip would be canceled.

"We were invited by the U.S. government so we have to wait for
information from them on the planned trip," he remarked.

Presidential Secretary Kemal Munawar said there had been no
news from the U.S. government on the planned visit and the
Indonesian government would wait for their confirmation.

"We understand that the U.S. government must be very busy now,
so we will wait. However, the planned visit to Japan remains as
scheduled," Kemal told journalists.

Megawati was initially scheduled to leave for Washington on
Sept. 17 to hold a meeting with President George W. Bush and to
address the United Nations General Assembly Session in New York.
On the return journey, she planned to stop off in Japan on Sept.
26 to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. (dja)