U.S concerned crisis could disrupt stability
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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