Soeharto committed to reforms: Cohen

Soeharto committed to reforms: Cohen

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto strongly assured visiting
U.S. Defense Secretary William C. Cohen yesterday that he was
committed to rebuilding confidence in his country's economy.

The President was quoted by Cohen as saying he realized that
the unstable economic situation here would also affect other
countries in the region.

"He is determined to deal with the issues constructively and
to move very quickly on various reforms," Cohen said after
meeting with Soeharto at the latter's residence on Jl. Cendana,
in Central Jakarta.

Cohen held a joint media briefing with Minister of Defense Edi
Sudradjat on the front porch of Soeharto's home. American
journalists accompanying Cohen's seven Asian nations tour, and
Jakarta-based foreign correspondents packed the yard.

The defense secretary said he was impressed with Soeharto's
appearance of good health and stamina.

When asked whether Soeharto indicated any readiness to be
reelected to another term, Cohen said: "I did not inquire about
his political aspirations as such... But he is very strong and
he is in great health... he is very vigorous."

Cohen said it was important for his country to engage in and
continue dialog on Indonesia's economic problems and to seek
solutions because Indonesia plays a pivotal role in regional
stability and security.

"Indonesia and the U.S. cannot agree on all issues. We have
differences on human rights, but we have learned to work
together," Cohen said.

When asked whether Soeharto's economic policy was on the right
track, Cohen said: "I am not here as a financial expert. I am
here to talk about security issues, to expand the security
relationship.

"After talking with the President, I am convinced that he is
determined to put his country on a sound footing and to recover
confidence in his country's economic system."

He said he did not raise the issue of arms sales during his
meeting with Soeharto.

Indonesia canceled last year the purchase of nine U.S.-built
F-16 jet fighters after the U.S. Congress put the deal on hold
citing Indonesia's poor human rights record.

Jakarta then turned to Russia, placing an order last year to
buy 12 Sukhoi-30K fighters and eight MI-17-IV helicopters to
modernize its air defense system.

Last week, the Armed Forces announced that in light of the
economic turmoil, it was delaying all planned arms purchases, a
move that would save $20 billion.

Yesterday, Armed Forces chief spokesman Brig. Gen. Wahab
Mokodongan, clarified that Indonesia had not entirely postponed
its plan to purchase the Sukhoi fighters.

Wahab said the deal could still proceed as long as no cash was
involved.

"If the Sukhoi purchase could be financed entirely through
counterpurchase, then it could still go ahead," he said.

The U.S. government yesterday offered Indonesia the
opportunity to revive a military education and training program
for Indonesian officers, which Indonesia rejected last year,
Antara reported.

Cohen, in a separate meeting with Armed Forces Chief Gen.
Feisal Tanjung later in the day, said he was prepared to fight
for the program through U.S. Congress, the news agency said.

Feisal told reporters that Indonesia would look into the
offer, underscoring the benefit of the International Military
Education and Training (IMET) program for Indonesian officers.

The majority of Indonesian officers were IMET alumni, he said.

Indonesia in June rejected further participation in the IMET
program, along with its decision to cancel the earlier plan to
buy the F-16 fighters.

The move came in response to what Indonesia called "wholly
unjustified criticism" in the U.S. Congress against Indonesia.

The program, worth $600,000 to Indonesia, involves
professional training for senior foreign military officers. It
was recommenced in Indonesia in 1995 after a three-year
suspension by Washington in response to Jakarta's handling of the
East Timor issue.

In yet another meeting yesterday, this time with members of
the American Chamber of Commerce, Cohen maintained that the
United States remained a firm friend of Asia and that the
American military intended to remain firmly planted in the Asia-
Pacific region to help maintain strategic stability.

"If the U.S were not here, then someone would have to fill the
vacuum, it could be the Chinese, the Japanese, the ASEAN
countries, India or Pakistan. Someone would move to fill the gap,
and it might not necessarily be in ways that were friendly to our
interests," Cohen said.

Cohen will head for Singapore today before going on to
Thailand, China, Japan and South Korea. He plans to return to
Washington on Jan. 22. (prb/10/imn/emb)