CLINTON TO CONSIDER RESUMING US PEACE CORPS PROGRAM IN RI

Jakarta, Feb. 7 (ANTARA) - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will look into the possibility of reopening the US Peace Corps program in Indonesia during her upcoming visit in Jakarta, a government spokesman said.

Clinton during her visit in Indonesia February 18-19 would assess the possibility of resuming the US Peace Corps program in Indonesia after it was discontinued in the mid-1960s, the US State Department's deputy spokesman, Robert Wood, said at a recent press briefing in Washington DC, according to a US government press statement received by ANTARA Saturday.
Clinton would also hold consultations with senior Indonesian officials to discuss the growing partnership with Indonesia
and common interests in Southeast Asia.
"Indonesia is an important country for the United States. The secretary feels it's important that we need to reach out and reach out early to Indonesia," Wood said.
Indonesia is the largest Muslim nation in the world.
Clinton would make her first overseas mission as US secretary of state to East Asia in an eight-day trip which will include stops in Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, and China.
She would address a broad range of issues, from economics to climate change, during an eight-day, four-nation trip through East Asia, departing Washington on February 5, Wood said.
She chose to make Asia her first stop because of its strategic importance and the ever-increasing role it plays across the US foreign policy spectrum, Wood said.
"In all capitals, the secretary will be discussing common approaches to the challenges facing the international community, including the financial markets turmoil, humanitarian issues, security and climate change," he said.
Clinton would be in Japan February 16-18, then Indonesia February 18-19, South Korea February 19-20 and China February 20-22.
Two other issues that would receive attention during the secretary's talks are human rights and women's empowerment, Wood said.
"The secretary felt that going to Asia would send a tremendous signal to Asia and those in the world of the importance of Asia particularly to our foreign policy agenda," Wood said.
"The fact that she's going to Asia as her first trip, I think is very significant," he added.