ID :
46459
Thu, 02/19/2009 - 18:31
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/46459
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GOVT MUST FOLLOW UP CLINTON'S COMMITMENTS: TOP LEGISLATOR
Jakarta, Feb 19 (ANTARA) - The government should follow up the results of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit in Indonesia in accordance with the national interest, a top legislator said.
"Indonesia should be able to increase the benefits of its relationships with the United States. The commitments that have been made by Clinton should be followed up," Theo Sambuaga, chairman of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s Commission I (foreign, defense affairs), said here on Thursday.
He said Clinton's statement that the United States was willing to develop comprehensive relations with Indonesia should be followed up by negotiations to increase cooperation in the educational, health, trade, tourism, political and military fields.
"Both sides have an interest in increased cooperation and for this Indonesia is in a sufficiently strong bargaining position," he said.
Sambuaga said Clinton had admitted that Indonesia as a democratic state and as a country with the largest Muslim population in the world was important for the United States and could play an important role in the settlement of the Middle East conflict.
The United States considered that Indonesia was consistent in its stand to support the independence of Palestine and was close to Palestine and Arab countries while at the same time it was also close to the West, particularly the United States which defended Israel.
In such a position, according to Sambuaga, Indonesia is able to play a bigger role in accelerating the process to attain a just and peaceful settlement of the Middle East conflict.
Indonesia was also in a position to play a bigger role in the settlement of the long-standing dispute between Iran and the United States over the nuclear issue.
Indonesia which has built friendly relationships with both Iran and the United States could play a mediating role in this case, he said.
Clinton who arrived at 2.04 pm on Wednesday for a two-day visit in Indonesia from February 18 to 19, 2009, said on Wednesday that the US and Indonesia had agreed to deepen their cooperation in various sectors. She also hoped Indonesia could play a key role in international problems affecting US foreign policy.
"Indonesia should be able to increase the benefits of its relationships with the United States. The commitments that have been made by Clinton should be followed up," Theo Sambuaga, chairman of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s Commission I (foreign, defense affairs), said here on Thursday.
He said Clinton's statement that the United States was willing to develop comprehensive relations with Indonesia should be followed up by negotiations to increase cooperation in the educational, health, trade, tourism, political and military fields.
"Both sides have an interest in increased cooperation and for this Indonesia is in a sufficiently strong bargaining position," he said.
Sambuaga said Clinton had admitted that Indonesia as a democratic state and as a country with the largest Muslim population in the world was important for the United States and could play an important role in the settlement of the Middle East conflict.
The United States considered that Indonesia was consistent in its stand to support the independence of Palestine and was close to Palestine and Arab countries while at the same time it was also close to the West, particularly the United States which defended Israel.
In such a position, according to Sambuaga, Indonesia is able to play a bigger role in accelerating the process to attain a just and peaceful settlement of the Middle East conflict.
Indonesia was also in a position to play a bigger role in the settlement of the long-standing dispute between Iran and the United States over the nuclear issue.
Indonesia which has built friendly relationships with both Iran and the United States could play a mediating role in this case, he said.
Clinton who arrived at 2.04 pm on Wednesday for a two-day visit in Indonesia from February 18 to 19, 2009, said on Wednesday that the US and Indonesia had agreed to deepen their cooperation in various sectors. She also hoped Indonesia could play a key role in international problems affecting US foreign policy.
