U.S.-RI Society comes to town
U.S.-RI Society comes to town
JAKARTA (JP): The United States-Indonesia Society, which was
inaugurated in Washington just over a year ago, will make its
debut in Indonesia tonight with a gala appearance.
Hosting a reception to introduce the organization at the
Aryaduta Jakarta hotel are the two co-chairs of the board of
trustees, Paul Wolfowitz and Emil Salim, and the society's
president, Edward Masters.
The United States-Indonesia Society was formed in February
1994 as a private nonprofit organization after a group of
Indonesians and Americans with firsthand experience in both
countries became concerned by what seemed to be growing bilateral
problems and a lack of knowledge on United States' part about
Indonesia's culture, history, general aspirations and
governmental system.
Wolfowitz and Masters both served as American ambassadors to
Indonesia while Emil, an American-trained economist, served in
President Soeharto's cabinet for over 20 years until 1993.
Indonesian senior economist Sumitro Djojohadikusumo and former
U.S. Secretary of State George P. Shultz sit as honorary co-
chairs of the board of advisors.
The group had its official inauguration at the Mayflower Hotel
in Washington in October 1994, an event that was attended by
about 400 guests, including U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown,
who was the guest of honor, and Winston Lord, the U.S. Secretary
of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs.
The society, which is convinced that sound U.S.-Indonesia ties
are of growing importance in today's complex world, felt the need
for an organization to focus on this relationship and help foster
better understanding of Indonesia in the United States and the
relationship between the two countries.
The society's activities include publications of various books
about the roles both Indonesia and America play, professional
orientation tours including of U.S. congressional staff, the
granting of scholarships, organizing cultural events, speeches
and interviews, conferences and lectures. (emb)