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.