U.S. hopes for better ties with Indonesia

U.S. hopes for better ties with Indonesia

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

United States Ambassador to Indonesia Ralph Boyce expressed
his hopes here Monday that the two countries would manage to
answer the challenges of diplomacy and improve relations between
the two nations.

Speaking at a press conference after a meeting with Vice
President Hamzah Haz, Boyce said that Indonesia and the U.S. had
a long and good relationship.

Indonesia has urged Washington to halt the U.S.-led military
strikes against Afghanistan during the Muslim fasting month of
Ramadhan beginning later this month, but relations have remained
stable.

Boyce said that the Indonesian government's stance is clear
and he hoped that whatever Washington decides during Ramadhan,
the two countries will understand each other and continue to
combat terrorism jointly.

U.S. officials in Washington have said that they would
continue the military campaign during the holy month despite
pressure from Muslim countries.

"We may not always have a common view of how to do that but I
think we were very much assured that along with many other
countries Indonesia continues to be very much part of the efforts
to fight terrorism," he added.

Boyce further expressed his confidence that the Indonesian
government is committed to safeguarding U.S. interests in the
country, despite continuing anti-American rallies, and adding
that in the first three weeks of his term in Jakarta, the
situation has shown improvement.

Boyce said the U.S. will maintain its commitment to remain an
economic partner with Indonesia, citing that none of the American
companies had left the country since the crisis begin.

He also unveiled his plan to visit the provinces of the
country, including the restive provinces of Aceh and Irian Jaya.