Obama pledges closer ties on return to Indonesia

Posted by: yossipetrucci on: November 9, 2010

• In: World News
• Leave a Comment

Obama: “Indonesia is where many of the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century come together”

The US and Indonesia are to expand co-operation on economic issues, security and climate change, the presidents of both countries have said.

US President Barack Obama said the US and Indonesia would expand trade relationships and increase prosperity.

He criticised the recent elections in Burma and called for the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Mr Obama, who lived in Indonesia in his youth, will also speak at South East Asia’s largest mosque while in Jakarta.

The speech, to be delivered on Wednesday, will be his most high-profile attempt to engage the Islamic world since a landmark speech in Cairo in June 2009.

However, the White House says the president will probably have to cut short his visit by a few hours because of concerns over volcanic ash from Mount Merapi, which could disrupt flights.

Speaking in Jakarta, Mr Obama said he had worked hard to repair ties with Muslim communities but warned that some “misunderstandings and mistrust” were likely to remain.

In a wide-ranging news conference with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Mr Obama also criticised Israel’s plan to build apartments for Jewish settlers in disputed East Jerusalem.

“This kind of activity is never helpful when it comes to peace negotiations,” Mr Obama said.

Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians resumed in September after a break of almost two years but were suspended after a few weeks when a freeze on the building of Jewish settlements expired.

Mr Obama also referred to his childhood times in Jakarta, saying: “I will tell you, though, that I barely recognised it as I was driving down the streets. The only thing that was there when I first moved to Jakarta was Sarinah (a shopping mall). Now it’s one of the shorter buildings on the road.”

Memories:

Mr Obama said it was a “little disorientating” being back in Jakarta

Mr Obama said Indonesia had “figured out how to create a genuine democracy” with a hugely diverse population.

Washington and Jakarta would also work together on climate change, he said.

Mr Obama has twice postponed this visit because of domestic problems.

He is also visiting at a time when Indonesia is trying to recover from two natural disasters – the eruption of Mt Merapi, which has killed more than 130 people, and a tsunami that struck the Mentawai islands, killing more than 400 people and forcing thousands into emergency shelters.

The trip will provide little time for nostalgia in a country where the president spent four years as a boy with his late mother. Mr Obama attended schools in Jakarta between the ages of six and 10.

However, he did manage to greet officials who met him at the airport with a few words in Indonesian.

He added: “It’s wonderful to be here although I have to tell you that when you visit a place that you spent time in as a child, as the president it’s a little disorientating.”