Soeharto pledges to implement reforms
Soeharto pledges to implement reforms
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto told U.S. President Bill
Clinton yesterday morning that he remained committed to economic
reforms agreed upon with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
In a 30-minute telephone conversation, the President said he
would seriously implement the economic reforms to cope with the
country's ailing economy, Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono said
yesterday.
"The President has instructed Minister of Industry and Trade
Tunky Ariwibowo and the government's economic advisor Widjojo
Nitisastro to thoroughly study the implementation of programs
supported by the IMF," Moerdiono said after meeting with Soeharto
at his residence on Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta.
In the telephone conversation, Clinton expressed his
confidence in Soeharto's pledge to reform the country's economy
and offered his help to assist Indonesia.
"President Clinton said he was concerned Indonesia was facing
monetary upheaval, Clinton believed that under Pak Harto's
leadership, Indonesians would be able to overcome the difficult
conditions," Moerdiono said.
He said Soeharto welcomed Clinton's plan to send U.S. Deputy
Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers to Jakarta to talk about the
reforms.
"The main task of President Clinton's envoy during his visit
to Jakarta will be to see for himself the steps that Indonesia is
taking in handling the monetary crisis and maybe he will also
give an opinion," Moerdiono said.
The U.S. is expected to contribute about US$3 billion of
Indonesia's $40 billion bailout program led by the IMF.
Summers said Wednesday that Jakarta should step up efforts to
convince markets that it was serious about the IMF-sponsored
reforms.
Summers is expected to arrive in Jakarta early next week. An
IMF team lead by first deputy managing director Stanley Fischer
is also slated to arrive in Jakarta Sunday.
"Its managing director, Michel Camdessus, may also come here
later next week," a senior government official said yesterday.
IMF officials had faulted Jakarta for failing to follow
through on pledges to restructure the nation's economy.
Panic buying
According to Moerdiono, Soeharto also closely followed the
situation Thursday when panic buying of basic food commodities
took place at several large grocery stores and supermarkets with
people fearing a steep rise in prices.
He said Soeharto summoned Coordinating Minister for Production
and Distribution Hartarto, Minister of Industry and Trade Tunky
Ariwibowo, Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto,
Minister of Information R. Hartono and other senior officials
yesterday morning.
The President ordered Hartarto to coordinate the supply and
distribution of people's daily needs, Moerdiono said.
Moerdiono expressed disappointment over rumors circulating
Thursday and yesterday, including rumors that Soeharto had
appointed Vice President Try Sutrisno as his successor and that
the First Family had left the country.
"They are extremely total lies. Journalists are obliged to
help the government calm the situation down," Moerdiono said. He
said the President also heard about the rumors.
"The President spent three hours this morning receiving
guests. This is enough to prove that he is healthy," Moerdiono
said. (prb)