ID :
46342
Thu, 02/19/2009 - 09:44
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https://oananews.org//node/46342
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New Focus: RI EXPECTED TO HELP BRIDGE WEST-MUSLIM WORLD
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Feb 18 (ANTARA) - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in her two-day visit to Indonesia is expected to lay the foundations of a role that Jakarta can play in nurturing the close good relations between the United States and the Muslim world.
"The relations between Indonesia and the United States are always well maintained so that Jakarta can play its role to help improve relations between the United States and the Muslim world," Muslim intellectual Azyumardi Azra said in a talk-show with Metro TV here on Wednesday.
Azra made the remarks in connection with Clinton's first overseas trip as US secretary of state to four Asian countries, namely Japan, Indonesia, South Korea and China. Her visit to Indonesia is regarded as an effort by Washington to improve its relations with the Muslim world.
Clinton who arrived in Indonesia on Wednesday afternoon said in Tokyo the previous day that the President Barack Obama administration will make a concerted effort to restore the image of the United States in the Islamic world and will seek to enlist the help of Muslims around the world against the extremists.
Recently, US Vice President Joe Biden had specifically asked Indonesia to make a peace proposal on the Palestinian conflict during Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla's courtesy call on his American counterpart.
The United States expected to get a peace proposal on the Palestinian conflict from Indonesia often regarded as the most tolerant and acceptable country.
According to Azra, Indonesia should be able to convince the United States in order it would adopt a fair attitude with regard to the Middle East conflict.
Indonesia, on the other hand, can also play its role to persuade Hamas to adopt a moderate step because Indonesia has a good relation with both sides, he said.
Abdilla Toha of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s Commission I, which deals with foreign affairs, said it must be understood that Hamas had no ideology to totally 'eliminate' Israel but to fight for the departure of Israel from certain territories it was occupying.
He said that if the United States was willing to change its approach with regard to the Middle East conflict, now was the best time to initiate it and cooperate with Indonesia.
"Now is the time for the United States to improve its image in the Muslim world after it was tarnished over the past eight years," Toha told Metro TV. His idea was supported by Azra who said that it is time for Clinton in her current visit to lay the basic foundations of a role that Indonesian can play to help US foster its relations with the Muslim world.
The US secretary of state during a joint press conference with her Indonesian counterpart Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda in Jakarta on Wednesday said that the United States was willing to reach out the entire world to develop a common future.
In this context, Indonesia as a predominantly Muslim country can play a leading role in bridging the West and Muslim world. According to Clinton, the United States has provided a proposal to the Indonesian government to consider where both sides can engage in negotiations on broader issues.
Clinton said the United States wanted to build a comprehensive partnership with Indonesia which was a critical step for the United States' commitment to listening as well as talking to those around the world and to supporting a country (Indonesia) which had clearly demonstrated that Islam, democracy and modernity not only could co-exist but also were tied together.
In the meantime, Hasyim Muzadi, chairman of NU, the Indonesian largest Muslim organization, said that the visit of the US secretary of state was important in the context of Islam. "The visit is very useful if Clinton is willing to look at Islam from the objective point of view," he said.
He said that Indonesia with major Muslim population had been successful in nurturing interfaith harmony which could serve as a model for countries with multi-religious adherents. "But this would depend on the US attitude and Muslim countries. Islam should not be linked with extremism because extremism also existed with other religions," Muzadi said.
Din Syamsuddin, chairman of Muhammadiyah, the second largest Muslim organization, meanwhile hailed Clinton's visit saying the US secretary of state's tour of Indonesia was the US recognition of and appreciation to the country as its strategic partner.
Din said the world viewed Indonesia as a country with majority moderate Muslim population and the US which was currently facing a financial crisis wished to increase its bilateral relations.
"I have proposed to the US embassy that Secretary of State Hillary could meet with Islamic figures like when former president George W Bush came to the Indonesia," he said.
Although no meeting would be held between Hillary and Islamic figures the US embassy in Jakarta would invite some of the Islamic leaders to come to a dinner party for her.
Apart from rejections from certain organizations such as the Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), many Muslim scholars welcome Clinton's visit.
"Clinton's visit should be taken as a good momentum to increase relations between the West, the United States in particular, and the Muslim world," Prof. Dr Yusni Saby, rector of the Aceh Ar-Raniry State Institute of Islamic Studies (IAIN), said
Jakarta, Feb 18 (ANTARA) - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in her two-day visit to Indonesia is expected to lay the foundations of a role that Jakarta can play in nurturing the close good relations between the United States and the Muslim world.
"The relations between Indonesia and the United States are always well maintained so that Jakarta can play its role to help improve relations between the United States and the Muslim world," Muslim intellectual Azyumardi Azra said in a talk-show with Metro TV here on Wednesday.
Azra made the remarks in connection with Clinton's first overseas trip as US secretary of state to four Asian countries, namely Japan, Indonesia, South Korea and China. Her visit to Indonesia is regarded as an effort by Washington to improve its relations with the Muslim world.
Clinton who arrived in Indonesia on Wednesday afternoon said in Tokyo the previous day that the President Barack Obama administration will make a concerted effort to restore the image of the United States in the Islamic world and will seek to enlist the help of Muslims around the world against the extremists.
Recently, US Vice President Joe Biden had specifically asked Indonesia to make a peace proposal on the Palestinian conflict during Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla's courtesy call on his American counterpart.
The United States expected to get a peace proposal on the Palestinian conflict from Indonesia often regarded as the most tolerant and acceptable country.
According to Azra, Indonesia should be able to convince the United States in order it would adopt a fair attitude with regard to the Middle East conflict.
Indonesia, on the other hand, can also play its role to persuade Hamas to adopt a moderate step because Indonesia has a good relation with both sides, he said.
Abdilla Toha of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s Commission I, which deals with foreign affairs, said it must be understood that Hamas had no ideology to totally 'eliminate' Israel but to fight for the departure of Israel from certain territories it was occupying.
He said that if the United States was willing to change its approach with regard to the Middle East conflict, now was the best time to initiate it and cooperate with Indonesia.
"Now is the time for the United States to improve its image in the Muslim world after it was tarnished over the past eight years," Toha told Metro TV. His idea was supported by Azra who said that it is time for Clinton in her current visit to lay the basic foundations of a role that Indonesian can play to help US foster its relations with the Muslim world.
The US secretary of state during a joint press conference with her Indonesian counterpart Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda in Jakarta on Wednesday said that the United States was willing to reach out the entire world to develop a common future.
In this context, Indonesia as a predominantly Muslim country can play a leading role in bridging the West and Muslim world. According to Clinton, the United States has provided a proposal to the Indonesian government to consider where both sides can engage in negotiations on broader issues.
Clinton said the United States wanted to build a comprehensive partnership with Indonesia which was a critical step for the United States' commitment to listening as well as talking to those around the world and to supporting a country (Indonesia) which had clearly demonstrated that Islam, democracy and modernity not only could co-exist but also were tied together.
In the meantime, Hasyim Muzadi, chairman of NU, the Indonesian largest Muslim organization, said that the visit of the US secretary of state was important in the context of Islam. "The visit is very useful if Clinton is willing to look at Islam from the objective point of view," he said.
He said that Indonesia with major Muslim population had been successful in nurturing interfaith harmony which could serve as a model for countries with multi-religious adherents. "But this would depend on the US attitude and Muslim countries. Islam should not be linked with extremism because extremism also existed with other religions," Muzadi said.
Din Syamsuddin, chairman of Muhammadiyah, the second largest Muslim organization, meanwhile hailed Clinton's visit saying the US secretary of state's tour of Indonesia was the US recognition of and appreciation to the country as its strategic partner.
Din said the world viewed Indonesia as a country with majority moderate Muslim population and the US which was currently facing a financial crisis wished to increase its bilateral relations.
"I have proposed to the US embassy that Secretary of State Hillary could meet with Islamic figures like when former president George W Bush came to the Indonesia," he said.
Although no meeting would be held between Hillary and Islamic figures the US embassy in Jakarta would invite some of the Islamic leaders to come to a dinner party for her.
Apart from rejections from certain organizations such as the Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), many Muslim scholars welcome Clinton's visit.
"Clinton's visit should be taken as a good momentum to increase relations between the West, the United States in particular, and the Muslim world," Prof. Dr Yusni Saby, rector of the Aceh Ar-Raniry State Institute of Islamic Studies (IAIN), said
