News
President receives US Congress Subcommittee Head Eni Faleomavaega
Kamis, 5 Juli 2007 | 12:30 WIB
Jakarta, NU Online
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono received Eni Faleomavaega, chairperson of the US Congress`s Subcomittee on Asia and Pacific, at his office at 2 pm here on Thursday.
Accompanied by several staffers, Faleomavaega came to the presidential office together with Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirajuda and Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu.<>
Presidential Spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said Faleomavaeqa was received by the president a few hours after he had met with three other US Congress members.
"Faleomavaega met the president not in his capacity as a US Congress member but as chairperson of the US Congress`s Subcomittee on Asia and Pacific," he said as quoted by Antara news agency.
Asked whether Papua-related issues were discussed at the president`s meeting with Faleomavaega, Dino said he did not know.
"One thing that is sure is that Faleomevaega`s visit here has changed his views about Indonesia. It has made him realize this country is so vast and complex it cannot be reduced by the Papua issue," he said.
Dino said Faleomavaega was known as a US Congress member who often commented on the Papuan issue but now he had changed his views. "He now sees that Papua is inalienable part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia," he said.
On Wednesday, Faleomavaega paid a courtesy call to House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Agung Laksono.
Following the US lawmaker`s visit to the House, Theo L Sambuaga, chairman of the House`s Commission I which deals with foreign and defense affairs, quoted him as saying the US Congress no longer regarded the idea of Papuan independence a relevant issue under the unitary state of Indonesia.
After the meeting with Faleomavaega, Andreas H Pareira of the House`s Commission I said the US perception on Papua had changed.
In a closed-door meeting, Eni Faleomavaega admitted that at some point in the past, he had even tried to encourage Papua`s secession from Indonesia. But now, the US Congress was supporting the Indonesian government`s policy in granting special autonomy to Papua. This was seen as a step forward that needed to be maintained. (dar)
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono received Eni Faleomavaega, chairperson of the US Congress`s Subcomittee on Asia and Pacific, at his office at 2 pm here on Thursday.
Accompanied by several staffers, Faleomavaega came to the presidential office together with Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirajuda and Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu.<>
Presidential Spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said Faleomavaeqa was received by the president a few hours after he had met with three other US Congress members.
"Faleomavaega met the president not in his capacity as a US Congress member but as chairperson of the US Congress`s Subcomittee on Asia and Pacific," he said as quoted by Antara news agency.
Asked whether Papua-related issues were discussed at the president`s meeting with Faleomavaega, Dino said he did not know.
"One thing that is sure is that Faleomevaega`s visit here has changed his views about Indonesia. It has made him realize this country is so vast and complex it cannot be reduced by the Papua issue," he said.
Dino said Faleomavaega was known as a US Congress member who often commented on the Papuan issue but now he had changed his views. "He now sees that Papua is inalienable part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia," he said.
On Wednesday, Faleomavaega paid a courtesy call to House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Agung Laksono.
Following the US lawmaker`s visit to the House, Theo L Sambuaga, chairman of the House`s Commission I which deals with foreign and defense affairs, quoted him as saying the US Congress no longer regarded the idea of Papuan independence a relevant issue under the unitary state of Indonesia.
After the meeting with Faleomavaega, Andreas H Pareira of the House`s Commission I said the US perception on Papua had changed.
In a closed-door meeting, Eni Faleomavaega admitted that at some point in the past, he had even tried to encourage Papua`s secession from Indonesia. But now, the US Congress was supporting the Indonesian government`s policy in granting special autonomy to Papua. This was seen as a step forward that needed to be maintained. (dar)
