RI-U.S. relations still strong

JAKARTA (JP): Senior government officials reaffirmed that ties between the United States and Indonesia remained strong and expressed their commitment to overcome irritants which have snagged relations over the past year.

Visiting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Stanley Owen Roth said here yesterday that ties were sound and that the two countries had many common interests.

"The fundamentals of the relationship remain very strong, and it was very clear in my meeting with Indonesian officials that they agreed that the bilateral relationship remain strong," Roth said. "Its important to both of us."

Earlier Indonesia's ambassador to Washington Arifin Siregar after accompanying Roth to a meeting with President Soeharto noted that in the past year several complications have arisen that have placed greater stress on the relationship.

He said this included a U.S. presidential fund-raising scandal involving Lippo Group's Riady family which resulted in an negative image of Indonesia.

"This made people close to the Clinton administration reluctant to take any steps which would be perceived as being aligned with Indonesia... We could see them distancing themselves from us," Arifin said.

Irritations heightened in June when Indonesia canceled its purchase of F-16 jet fighters and withdrew from a U.S. military training program.

The decision was made after continued criticism and linkages of the sale to human rights issues by the U.S. Congress.

"This became shock therapy to the Americans. It opened their eyes to the fact that you can't treat Indonesia that way," Arifin claimed.

Arifin also said Soeharto could understand the congressional pressure Clinton faced with regards to ties with Indonesia.

On Roth's meeting with Soeharto at the President's residence on Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta, the ambassador said "Roth, at one point, said it's as if there was a crisis in RI-U.S. ties."

Roth himself only said he had "an excellent meeting. A productive, constructive meeting and I look forward to working with him (Soeharto) and his officials in the future".

This was Roth's first visit here since he was sworn in to his current post on Aug. 5.

Roth, who arrived from Manila on Tuesday, was on a lightning one-night stop here and left for Seoul later yesterday. He will continue on to Tokyo before returning to Washington.

Speaking to journalists, Roth said apart from meeting Indonesian officials like Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas, he also met with several non-governmental organizations.

Washington's continued concern over human and labor rights issues was also made evident when Roth brought up the issue in talks with officials here.

"Needless to say we continue to have concerns over the labor situation in Indonesia and we are continuing to pursue those concerns," Roth told journalists.

The case involving jailed labor leader Muchtar Pakpahan was also discussed.

"His case certainly came up in my discussions. This is not the first time and it will not be the last time that the United States raises the issue. It's part of our overall commitment to seek progress on human rights issues," he remarked.

Recounting the events which transpired after the cancellation of the F-16 deal, Roth claimed: "There has been no negative spillover effect as a result of it."

Arifin earlier said American businesspeople were worried over the likelihood of a backlash over Indonesia's cancellation of the F-16s in response to continued congressional criticism on human rights.

But Roth yesterday brushed off the concerns.

"In terms of further retaliation I think there is an understanding that this was done for precisely the reasons that President Soeharto indicated in his message to President Clinton. It was done to remove a potential irritant in the bilateral relationship. It was not done as punishment and it was not indicative of future steps to come," he said.

The strong economic ties are reflected in trade between the two countries which, according to Arifin, stood at US$12.2 billion with a $4 billion surplus for Indonesia in 1996.

U.S. non-oil and gas investment here is $13 billion, while in the oil and gas sector, 80 percent of all investment comes from American companies. (prb/mds)