INDONESIA: AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER JOHN HOWARD BECOMES FIRST FOREIGN LEADER TO VISIT NEW PRESIDENT MEGAWATI

Record ID: 208482

  • Title: INDONESIA: AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER JOHN HOWARD BECOMES FIRST FOREIGN LEADER TO VISIT NEW PRESIDENT MEGAWATI
  • Date: 14th August 2001
  • Summary: (U4) JAKARTA, INDONESIA (AUGUST 12, 2001) (REUTERS) 1. SLV AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER JOHN HOWARD ARRIVES AT PRESIDENTIAL PALACE; MV HOWARD SHAKES HANDS WITH OFFICIALS (2 SHOTS) 0.14 2. MV INDONESIAN PRESIDENT MEGAWATI SUKARNOPUTRI WAITING 0.17 3. MV HOWARD AND MEGAWATI SHAKE HANDS (2 SHOTS) 0.37 4. SLV /MV PHOTO OP 0.45 5. MV HOWARD AND MEGAWATI ENTER ROOM; SEATED FOR MEETING (4 SHOTS) 1.05 6. MV HOWARD LEAVES PALACE; MV JOURNALISTS (2 SHOTS) 1.17 7. (SOUNDBITE)(English) AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER JOHN HOWARD SAYING "I am very impressed by the readiness of the President to look ahead. I think it is very positive for relations between our two countries that, in my discussion with President Megawati, we both struck a tone of realism, we both want a good relationship. We recognise there have been some differences in the past but importantly there is a great deal of residual good will. There is a lot of common interest, there is a recognition of the closeness of our two countries geographically and therefore strategically and I certainly am encouraged from my first meeting with her and that Indonesia's new President wants a good relationship with Australia." 2.12 8. MV NEWS CONFERENCE 2.13 9. (SOUNDBITE)(English) HOWARD SAYING "We admire the attempts being taken by Indonesia to emerge as a democracy and we respect and understand how difficult the process is and we want to help along the way. That's what a good regional mate should do." 2.30 10. MV HOWARD LEAVES 2.37 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 29th August 2001 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JAKARTA, INDONESIA
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Reuters ID: LVACFJ788N3FTB10F8UC8TOHR31K
  • Story Text: Australia's prime minister, John Howard, became the
    first foreign leader to visit new Indonesian President
    Megawati, vowing to be a good mate as his troubled neighour
    moves towards democracy.

    Howard's two day visit which began on Sunday
    (August 12) is also aimed at rebuilding the damage to
    relations over Australia's decision to lead international
    troops into East Timor in 1999 to restore peace after its vote
    for independence.

    After a brief courtesy call on Megawati and her deputy,
    Hamzah Haz, Howard told reporters she had assembled a capable
    team but faced a difficult task to revive the economy and take
    the nation forward.

    "We admire the steps being undertaken by Indonesia to
    emerge as a democracy and we respect and understand and are
    sensitive to how difficult that process is and we have got to
    help along the way," he said.

    "That's what a good regional mate should do."
    Howard said Megawati, in power for less than three weeks,
    had expressed a desire to boost relations between the two
    neighbours.

    "We both want a good relationship. We recognise there have
    been some differences in the past, but importantly there's a
    great deal of residual goodwill," he said.

    Howard is due to meet Megawati and other senior members of
    her government on Monday (August 13).

    He would not say what issues would be raised, but
    Megawati's chief spokesman told reporters at the palace East
    Timor and possibly separatist tensions in Irian Jaya would be
    raised.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register