U.S concerned crisis could disrupt stability

JAKARTA (JP): Discussions with United States Defense Secretary William Cohen revealed yesterday that Washington harbors concerns that the economic turmoil in Southeast Asia could disrupt regional stability.

Indonesia's ambassador-at-large Nana Sutresna said that Cohen's 90-minute discussion expressed some concerns about development in the region and how it would affect long-term stability which has been a staple in the region's economic success.

"Secretary Cohen admitted that Washington is concerned about what has been happening in the region," Nana said, adding that the concern was based on fears that instability in the region could eventually affect the strategic interest of the U.S.

Yesterday's roundtable discussion was held by the Indonesian Council on World Affairs (ICWA).

Nana, who is a member of the Council's advisory board, said Cohen also underlined the importance of Southeast Asia to U.S. foreign policy.

"Cohen said the region is critical for U.S foreign policy," Nana added.

Cohen arrived here yesterday morning as part of a seven-nation Asian tour. He is due to meet with President Soeharto this morning to discuss security issues.

Cohen's arrival to the region comes at a time when it is facing severe economic turmoil.

The rupiah has plunged to historic proportions in the past six months and has forced Jakarta to seek a bailout package from the International Monetary Fund.

But Cohen told journalists yesterday that his three-day visit here would focus more on security issues than economic ones.

"My job is basically to talk about security and how it can be promoted throughout the region ... I am focusing on security and not the financial side," Cohen said.

He said the purpose of his travels was to explore ways in which the U.S. can help continue to be a stabilizing influence throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

While Indonesia and the U.S. have a long history of military and defense cooperation, ties were jarred when Jakarta announced last year that it was canceling the planned purchase of nine U.S.-made F-16s and participation in the International Military Education training due to human rights issues.

Indonesia opted to purchase 12 Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30K jet fighters and eight MI-17-IV helicopters instead, but last week announced that it was also postponing this US$500 million deal due to the currency crisis.

When asked to comment yesterday, Cohen said the U.S. had nothing to do with the postponement of the Sukhoi purchase.

"Indonesia makes decisions and choices upon its interests and its requirements. The U.S. has no influence in that," Cohen said.

Cohen will head for Singapore tomorrow and then to Thailand, China, Japan and South Korea. He plans to return to Washington on Jan. 22.

On his first stop in Kuala Lumpur, he stressed 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. (10)

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