INDONESIA: THE TOP U.S. ENVOY TO ASIA JAMES KELLY MEETS WITH INDONESIAN PRESIDENT MEGAWATI SUKARNOPUTRI

Record ID: 647085

  • Title: INDONESIA: THE TOP U.S. ENVOY TO ASIA JAMES KELLY MEETS WITH INDONESIAN PRESIDENT MEGAWATI SUKARNOPUTRI
  • Date: 17th January 2003
  • Summary: (U3) JAKARTA, INDONESIA (JANUARY 17, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. SV UNITED STATES (U.S.) ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ASIAN AFFAIRS JAMES KELLY ARRIVES AT PRESIDENTIAL PALACE 0.12 2. SV/SLV INDONESIAN PRESIDENT MEGAWATI SUKARNOPUTRI WAITING/SHAKING HANDS WITH KELLY (2 SHOTS) 0.21 3. MCU MEDIA 0.25 4. SLV/SV OF MEETING BETWEEN MEGAWATI AND KELLY (4 SHOTS) 0.51 5. SV MEDIA 0.55 6. MCU (English) JAMES KELLY SAYING "The President was very gracious as she always is in receiving me and in hearing my views and she made a number of points to me which I will certainly be taking back with great seriousness to Washington. Indonesia is a very important country, we are determined to tale our relationship to new heights and we thank you very much." 1.30 7. SLV/MCU KELLY ARRIVING AT CHIEF SECURITY MINISTER'S OFFICE, SITING DOWN (2 SHOTS) 1.43 8. SV/MCU OF KELLY MEETING INDONESIA SECURITY MINISTER BAMBANG YUDHOYONO (3 SHOTS) 1.55 9. SV MEDIA 1.57 10. SV/SLV KELLY LEAVING (3 SHOTS) 2.18 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 1st February 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JAKARTA, INDONESIA
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Reuters ID: LVA9GMYR11ZBJM1K9BWNKXLRVFFX
  • Story Text: The top U.S. envoy to Asia, Assistant Secretary of
    State James Kelly, has met with Indonesian President Megawati
    Sukarnoputri amid concerns over a controversial U.S.

    anti-terrorism programme that included Indonesia on the list
    of countries whose citizens must register and be fingerprinted
    when visiting the United States.



    Kelly arrived in Jakarta on Friday (January 17, 2003) for
    a two-day visit as part of a region-wide trip that has already
    taken him to South Korea and China.

    During his meeting with Indonesian President Megawati
    Sukarnoputri, Kelly said he hoped that Indonesia and the U.S.

    could improve their relationship.

    Kelly also met with Indonesia's top security officials
    including Chief security Minister Bambang Yudhoyono.

    Kelly's visit comes amid concerns over a controversial US
    anti-immigration programme.

    Indonesia, an ally in the U.S. war on terror, lashed out
    on Friday at its inclusion on a list of countries whose
    citizens must register and be fingerprinted when visiting the
    United States.

    The country, the world's most populous Muslim nation, said
    it did not accept the move and told its people not to travel
    to the United States unless it was essential.

    The visitor requirement, which applies to males 16 years
    old and above, is part of a controversial U.S. anti-terrorism
    programme and has been applied to travellers from various
    countries, most of them Muslim.

    On Thursday, U.S Justice Department officials said
    Indonesia, Bangladesh, Egypt, Jordan and Kuwait would be added
    to a list of 20 countries whose nationals have to register
    before visiting America.

    Asked to comment on the move, Indonesian Foreign Ministry
    spokesman Marty Natalegawa told Reuters it was discriminatory.

    Indonesia was criticised by some analysts as getting off
    to a slow start in the anti-terrorism fight after the
    September 11 attacks in the United States in 2001.

    But it has won praise in the wake of the Bali bombing for
    a series of arrests of suspects linked to the attack.

    A bomb attack on the Indonesian tourist centre of Bali in
    October killed at least 193 people, mostly foreign tourists.

    Some of the suspects arrested had ties to Jemaah Islamiah,
    a regional network of militant Muslims linked to al Qaeda.

    Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said Indonesians
    currently living in the United States or planning to go there
    should make sure they had all the appropriate documents. But
    he and his ministry advised non-essential travel be shelved.

    Earlier on Friday, Wirajuda met U.S. Assistant Secretary
    James Kelly, who subsequently held a meeting with President
    Megawati Sukarnoputri. On both occasions, Indonesia raised its
    concerns over the recent policy.

    In Kelly's Jakarta meetings, officials of both countries
    also discussed the nuclear crisis in North Korea and the
    possibility of war in Iraq.

    Kelly wraps up his Asian tour with a visit to Tokyo on
    Sunday (January 19).


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