U.S. envoy meets Amien Rais

U.S. envoy meets Amien Rais

JAKARTA: United States Ambassador Ralph "Skip" Boyce made on
Tuesday a courtesy call on People's Consultative Assembly Speaker
Amien Rais to introduce himself, as he began his tenure as
Washington's top envoy here.

During the meeting Amien urged the U.S. government to suspend
its military campaign in Afghanistan during the Islamic fasting
month, or, at the very least, reduce the intensity of its
attacks.

After the meeting Boyce underlined that the current military
campaign was targeted at the Taliban and its leaders, not the
Afghan people.

"We believe this small (Taliban) group inside Afghanistan is
holding the country hostage," he said, stressing that in
principle both Jakarta and Washington were committed to fighting
terrorism.

Making a personal comment on the ambassador, Amien said Boyce
appeared to be the right person for the job as he seemed "sincere
and not arrogant."

Boyce presented his credentials to President Megawati
Soekarnoputri on Oct. 24. -- JP