World leaders congratulate Susilo

World leaders congratulate Susilo

Agencies, Jakarta

Congratulatory messages from world leaders are pouring in for the victor in Indonesia's historical first direct presidential election, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Some leaders talked directly to Susilo by telephone and congratulated him for his landslide victory against the incumbent president, Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Final results from the Sept. 20 presidential election gave Susilo some 60.68 percent of the vote, compared with Megawati's 39.38 percent.

U.S. President George W. Bush congratulated Susilo on Monday and praised the people of Indonesian for opting for democracy.

"On behalf of the American people, President Bush congratulates Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on his victory in the Republic of Indonesia's presidential election," Bush spokesman Scott McClellan said in a press release, which was sent to The Jakarta Post on Tuesday by the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta.

"We commend the people of Indonesia on this latest achievement in their country's impressive transition to democracy," he said, noting that almost 77 percent of those eligible voted.

"The United States and Indonesia have long-standing bonds of friendship," he said. "We look forward to working with president- elect Yudhoyono (Susilo) in further strengthening our ties and enhancing the welfare of our peoples."

German Federal President Horst Koehler hailed on Tuesday Indonesia's first direct presidential election as proof that democracy is not linked to certain cultural or social systems.

In a message congratulating retired general Susilo on his landslide victory, President Koehler said: "The peaceful course of the election year in your country sends out a signal which goes far beyond Southeast Asia."

"Democracy is a worldwide form of government which is not bound to certain cultural or social systems," said Koehler in an apparent reference to the fact that Indonesia -- with a population of 238 million of whom some 87 percent are Muslim -- is the biggest Islamic country in the world.

Canadian foreign minister Pierre Pettigrew congratulated the Indonesian government and people "on the successful completion of their historic first-ever direct presidential elections".

"As the world's largest Muslim democracy, Indonesia is a model for many countries," Pettigrew said in a statement.

"This success is an indication that the Indonesian democratic process is strong."

Australian Prime Minister John Howard congratulated Susilo on Tuesday after he was declared the runaway winner of the election.

Netherlands' acting prime minister Gerrit Zalm also congratulated Susilo.

In a press release sent to the Post on Tuesday, the Dutch Embassy said that Ambassador Ruud Treffers congratulated Susilo on behalf of the European Union (EU).

The Netherlands, the former colonial ruler of Indonesia, currently holds the EU presidency.

Several leaders of Southeast Asian nations -- including Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and East Timorese President Xanana Gusmao -- personally conveyed their congratulations and best wishes to Susilo by telephone.

President-elect Susilo also received on Monday congratulatory messages from Chinese President Hu Jintao, Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Switzerland President Joseph Deiss.

The new leader expressed gratitude to all world leaders who had send their congratulations.