Soeharto meets with scholars, other leaders
Soeharto meets with scholars, other leaders
By Rikza Abdullah
WASHINGTON (JP): President Soeharto held separate meetings
with leaders of 16 U.S. think tanks, the managing director of the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) and executives of the CARE
Foundation here Thursday.
Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono told reporters that
Soeharto and the other leaders exchanged views at a closed-door
meeting at the Indonesian ambassador's residence here about
political and economic developments in Indonesia and economic
relations in the Asia-Pacific region.
The think tank leaders included C. Fred Bergsten of the
Institute for International Economics, who is also chairman of
the Eminent Persons Group of the Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) forum, Carla A. Hills of the Hills & Company,
who is also a former U.S. Trade Representative, Joji Konoshima of
the U.S. Asia Institute, Douglas H. Paal of the Asia Pacific
Policy Center, W. Henson Moore of the American Forest & Paper
Association and Mauren S. Steinbruner of the Center for National
Policy .
However, Moerdiono, who accompanied the President, said he was
not at liberty to disclose the substance of the discussion.
The meeting was also attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ali Alatas.
Moerdiono said that in the meeting with the IMF Managing
Director Michel Camdessus, also at the ambassador's residence,
Soeharto discussed economic development in Indonesia, debt
problems of developing countries and exchange rate stabilization.
"Both the President and the IMF chief agreed that effective
ways must be sought to help reduce the debt burdens of the least-
developed nations," Moerdiono said.
Soeharto used the occasion to voice his concern that even
though a number of industrial countries have helped reduce the
debts of the least-developed countries, others have blocked the
Non-Aligned Movement's efforts to seek further multilateral debt
relief for the least-developed nations. "It is even impossible to
get their multilateral debts rescheduled," he said.
President Soeharto and his delegation were in the United
States for one week to attend the United Nations special
commemorative meeting and to hold a meeting with President Bill
Clinton.
The Movement has been looking for a once-and-for-all solution
to the heavy debt burdens -- currently estimated at about US$3
billion per annum -- shouldered by 18 least-developed nations
since 1982.
Moerdiono said Thursday that Camdessus and Soeharto also
agreed that exchange rate stability is critical to fostering
economic development, particularly in developing countries.
The fluctuation of conversion rates began after a G-7
agreement in 1985. Indonesia's debt burden then increased
sharply, affected by the U.S. dollar's sharp depreciation against
the yen from about 275 yen in that year to around 100 yen at
present.
At the dinner meeting with the CARE Foundation executives to
celebrate the organization's 50th anniversary at the Capitol
Hilton Hotel, Soeharto explained the results of Indonesia's
development programs during the last 25 years.
The President expressed his appreciation for CARE's 28-year
role in Indonesia's development programs.
The foundation, currently employing 180 people in its main
office in Jakarta and six regional offices in various towns, has
been active in community development.
On Friday morning, President Soeharto held a 45-minute meeting
with President Clinton at the White House before moving on to
Suriname, where he will spend three days.
Moerdiono also said that President Soeharto decided to
personally donate $5,000 to a mosque being built by Indonesian
Moslems in Queens, New York.
The mosque, to be inaugurated by Minister of Religious Affairs
Tarmizi Taher on Nov.5, is being created from a two-story
warehouse bought for US$385,000 by the Indonesian Moslems Society
in New York.