MP: US OFFER FOR COMPREHENSIVE PARTNERSHIP NO LIP SERVICE

Jakarta, Feb 19 (ANTARA) - Indonesia needs to follow up on the US offer for a comprehensive partnership, a parliamentary leader said here on Thursday.

The deputy chairman of House Commission I that deals with foreign affairs and information Yusron Ihza Mahendra said that the offer that had been conveyed by US secretary of state Hillary Clinton was not a mere lip service.
"On several occasions including an interview by a radio station in Jakarta broadcast this evening, Hillary Clinton had said that the US wished to develop a comprehensive partnership with Indonesia," he said to ANTARA.
The statement of the US secretary of state, according to him, must not have been a mere diplomatic lip service. "Because it must not be easy for the White House to decide on seding its secretary of state to Asia as her first trip abroad to Japan and Indonesia as their main destinations," he said.
The words "comprehensive partnership" had been articulated firmly by Hillary Clinton and this demonstrated that the US really wanted not only a partial but a total and complete relationship and cooperation, he said.
To follow it up, he said, ministers in the cabinet of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, had to prepare a comprehensive format of cooperation and friendship which "would be a framework for visionary, comprehensive and total friendship and cooperation. This has to be made," he said.
Regarding the matter he also suggested that the task be done right away and must even be continued by the next administration or cabinet (following the results of the presidential election later this year).
"What needs to be remembered is that the format must be made based upon appropriate knowledge of the constellation of global economic (including energy), political, military and defense powers as well as international diplomacy.
"With the policy of President Barack Obama it is not impossible that Indonesia could play a role in anulling Samuel Huntington's thesis on clash of civilizations and in making the world more peaceful and to become a better to live in," he said.
He admitted that there were various views about the US in the country. "Some like it and others do not. However it must be understood that diplomacy and political relationship cannot be built based upon like or dislike. It is also impossible to build it through street demonstrations and yells. Yells in the street need to be formulated," he said.
Ihza who has a doctorate degree in international politics said that diplomacy and political relations have to be built upon national interest.
"We will harmonize our national interest with that of the US so that they would perfectly match. This is the task of the government. As a parliament member I appeal that the government would not miss the opportunity," he said