RI-U.S. relations still strong

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)