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.