ID :
30536
Sun, 11/16/2008 - 07:48
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/30536
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PRESIDENT HOPES TO STRENGTHEN TIES WITH OBAMA'S ADMINISTRATION
Washington DC, Nov. 14 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Indonesia which has enjoyed very sound ties with the United States under the Bush administration, hopes to strengthen relations with Obama's administration.
"I very much look forward to work with his (Obama's) administration to strengthen our bilateral relations," President Yudhoyono said when speaking before around 200 members of the US-Indonesia Society (USINDO) here on Friday.
According to him, President George Bush has become one of the most pro-Indonesia American Presidents in the history of both states' bilateral relations and has given a strong push to advance US-Indonesia relations in the last 8 years.
President Yudhoyono also touched on the possibility of establishing a US-Indonesia strategic partnership, like those Indonesia has entered into with countries such as China, Russia, India, Japan and Australia.
"Of course, we need to be clear about the basis and terms of such strategic partnership. It will not be alliance, because we are constitutionally prohibited from entering into any alliances. But it will be a partnership brought about by a realignment of interests," he said.
A US-Indonesia strategic partnership should be based on equal partnership and common interests and bring about mutual and real benefit for the two nations, he said in his speech titled "Indonesia and America: a 21st century partnership".
"It has to be for the long-term, and has strong people-to-people content. It has to be part of a win-win strategic stability in the region. It has to be a force peace, stability and cooperation for the international system. And it has to respect Indonesia''s independent and active foreign policy, where there is always room for both sides to agree to disagree," he said.
President Yudhoyono pledged that Indonesia would advance the two countries' bilateral relations and work closely with the present and the next US administration to meet the pressing needs of global challenges such as climate change and crises of food, energy and finance.
He also told the audience that he had been asked by Obama's childhood friends in Jakarta to pass on to him an album containing photos of Obama and his school friends.
"You know, I have always believed in, and advocated, people-to-people contact. There is no better story, no better example, of the virtue of people-to-people connections than the powerful impact of Barack Obama''s elections to today's Indonesians," he said.
When Barack Obama was announced as the President-elect, the students from his old school, Besuki elementary, jumped euphorically and the teachers wept, he said.
"I very much look forward to work with his (Obama's) administration to strengthen our bilateral relations," President Yudhoyono said when speaking before around 200 members of the US-Indonesia Society (USINDO) here on Friday.
According to him, President George Bush has become one of the most pro-Indonesia American Presidents in the history of both states' bilateral relations and has given a strong push to advance US-Indonesia relations in the last 8 years.
President Yudhoyono also touched on the possibility of establishing a US-Indonesia strategic partnership, like those Indonesia has entered into with countries such as China, Russia, India, Japan and Australia.
"Of course, we need to be clear about the basis and terms of such strategic partnership. It will not be alliance, because we are constitutionally prohibited from entering into any alliances. But it will be a partnership brought about by a realignment of interests," he said.
A US-Indonesia strategic partnership should be based on equal partnership and common interests and bring about mutual and real benefit for the two nations, he said in his speech titled "Indonesia and America: a 21st century partnership".
"It has to be for the long-term, and has strong people-to-people content. It has to be part of a win-win strategic stability in the region. It has to be a force peace, stability and cooperation for the international system. And it has to respect Indonesia''s independent and active foreign policy, where there is always room for both sides to agree to disagree," he said.
President Yudhoyono pledged that Indonesia would advance the two countries' bilateral relations and work closely with the present and the next US administration to meet the pressing needs of global challenges such as climate change and crises of food, energy and finance.
He also told the audience that he had been asked by Obama's childhood friends in Jakarta to pass on to him an album containing photos of Obama and his school friends.
"You know, I have always believed in, and advocated, people-to-people contact. There is no better story, no better example, of the virtue of people-to-people connections than the powerful impact of Barack Obama''s elections to today's Indonesians," he said.
When Barack Obama was announced as the President-elect, the students from his old school, Besuki elementary, jumped euphorically and the teachers wept, he said.
