U.S. wants to see Indonesia peaceful and prosperous

This is the second of two articles based on a paper presented by the United States Ambassador Robert S. Gelbard at the one-day conference on U.S.-Indonesia relations on Dec. 6, 1999.

JAKARTA: The first U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia, Merle Cochran, presented his credentials to President Sukarno on Dec. 29, 1949.

In his congratulatory telegram to President Sukarno, dated Dec. 27, 1949, U.S. President Harry Truman wrote: "I have greatly admired the high statesmanship with which you, Dr. Hatta and your colleagues contributed with such distinction to the splendid settlements at The Hague which have provided independence and sovereignty to your country.

"The United States welcomes Indonesia into the family of independent, peace-loving nations. May God grant you and your people peace and prosperity in the years to come."

The Secretary of State, Dean Acheson, added a separate statement which reflected America's concern at the time with Soviet expansionism: "With their record of genuine nationalism, the Indonesian people may be expected successfully to resist all efforts of aggressive foreign dictatorships to subvert their newly won independence."

American relations with Indonesia have been productive, although we have seen some high points and some low points over the past 50 years. The U.S. and Indonesia have cooperated closely in building the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). We have worked together on development projects that have helped Indonesia achieve remarkable results in agriculture, family planning and industrial development.

The U.S. regional military presence and Indonesia's role as a force for consensus and dialogue has helped to maintain peace and stability in Southeast Asia and in the sea lanes through which over half of the world's trade passes. Over 2,000 Indonesians and Americans have studied in each other's country as Fulbright scholars, and tens of thousands of students from both countries have conducted research and attended schools in Indonesia and the U.S. through other sources of funding.

We have also seen moments when our relations suffered because of political differences. Those were difficult times, but I think the proof that our relationship is fundamentally strong is that we have always been able to discuss our differences openly, in a spirit of mutual respect, and to re-establish close ties quickly after each setback.

As the American Ambassador, I am often asked what are America's objectives in Indonesia. They are, in fact, the same objectives that most Indonesians have. Our national interests are best served by an Indonesia that is peaceful, stable, unified, and prosperous.

We consider Indonesia a valued friend in Southeast Asia, the cornerstone of regional security and a key economic and trade partner. We want Indonesia to recover its national balance and stability and resume economic growth as soon as possible. A stable, peaceful and prosperous Indonesia is what foreign investors, including American companies, want and what the U.S. government supports and desires.

A stable, peaceful and prosperous Indonesia would make it easier to do business, would offer a large new market for American products, would help ensure the safe passage of cargo through the world's busiest sea lanes and would have a positive influence on the political stability, security and economic recovery of the entire Southeast Asian region.

The path to stability, peace and economic prosperity, we are convinced, leads only through the labyrinth of democracy. Yes, democratic elections and political struggles can be complicated and messy, but they are the best way to ensure that a government makes its decisions based on the interests of the people, not only the interests of the leaders.

Freedom of expression and the democratic process, are the best guarantors of stability, because they provide a mechanism for free debate and orderly changes of government based on the will of the people.

Indonesia has changed dramatically in the past 18 months since the end of Orde Baru (New Order). The press, once tightly controlled, is now one of the world's most free and dynamic media; new political parties, once prohibited, are now active members of the government and opposition; and sensitive issues, long stifled, are now openly and vigorously debated by everyone.

With the democratic, open election of a new President and Vice-President in October, Indonesia has made one of the most stunning political transformations of any nation in history.

Indonesia's return to the ranks of democratic nations is an event of enormous importance, which will benefit not only the citizens of this country, but also all of the other countries of the region and the international community. The United States of America strongly supports Indonesia's political reforms and pledges its cooperation and assistance as the process of change continues.

The United States of America wants to be a true friend to Indonesia. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has identified Indonesia as one of four priority countries undergoing democratic transition, and she has made efforts to channel additional U.S. Government resources to supporting Indonesia. We soon intend to reopen our Consulate in Medan, to restore U.S. diplomatic representation to an important island where we need to be, Sumatra, where the first contact between Americans and Indonesians occurred over 200 years ago.

We intend to expand our assistance programs for Indonesia, as far as our budget resources will allow. We look forward to forging a new security relationship with the Indonesian armed forces in the future, too, provided that respect for democratic principles, and the spirit of military professionalism and civilian supervision of the armed forces prevails throughout the Indonesian Military (TNI).

I intend to work hard to secure the resources and political support needed for the United States to continue doing its part, now that Indonesia has done its part in establishing a legitimate, democratic government, so the world's fourth largest nation can make permanent its status as the largest democracy in East Asia, and the third largest democracy in the world.