U.S. wants to see Indonesia peaceful and prosperous

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.