JAKARTA-Indonesia’s expectations of new US President, Barrack Obama, varied from high hopes for justice and economic improvement to worries of business as usual with little change in foreign policy.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla said he was optimistic that Obama would be able to bring “more just settlements to the world’s problems, including overcoming its economic problems.”
He cited the case of the recent Israeli aggression in Gaza, noting that Israel halted their attack just before Obama’s appointment as president.
“So we are certain that he will bring a stronger authority in enforcing peace, be that in the Middle East, or in other parts [of the world],” he added.
House Speaker Agung Laksono was less optimistic, saying that he did not foresee any significant change in US foreign politics and economic policies under Obama’s administration.
“The United State’s liberal foreign policy and economic policy will not change under Obama,” he said.
Kalla said that Indonesia’s highest hope for Obama was that he would be able to overcome the economic crisis that has swept across the United States and was now spilling over the globe.
However, Agung aired hope that ties between the two countries could improve under Obama, and that it would be mutually beneficial.
He also hoped that Obama would defend the rights of the Palestinians.
“We hope that Obama can pay more attention to Palestine, so that it can become a free and sovereign country,” he said.
Obama lived in Indonesia between 1967 and 1971. His was 4-years-old when he came to the country with his mother who had married an Indonesian man.
Source: Jakarta Globe