US President Barack Obama responded in
fluent Indonesian to answer a State Department employee's question after Hillary Clinton's swearing in as the 67th Secretary of State on
Thursday.
A letter from the US Embassy in Jakarta issued Friday states that, after making his formal remarks at the event, President
Obama mingled with US diplomats, shaking hands and chatting
casually.
Charles Silver, a former Counselor
for Public Affairs at the US Embassy in Jakarta, addressed Obama in
Indonesian, saying “Selamat siang, Bapak.” Without
missing a beat, President Obama responded, “Terima kasih. Apa
kabar?”
Silver responded “Baik, baik” and then told the
President he had served in Indonesia several times and Obama
complimented him on his accent. The President then said if
he were to visit Indonesia he would like to visit his old neighborhood in
Menteng.
Previously Obama joined Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton in announcing former Senator George Mitchell as Special Envoy
to the Middle East and Ambassador Richard Holbrooke as Special
Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, moves that underscore
the new administration’s commitment to renewing America’s
leadership through reinvigorated diplomacy.
“We are
confronted by extraordinary, complex and interconnected global
challenges,” Obama said to State Department employees.
“Progress
will not come quickly or easily, nor can we promise to right every
single wrong around the world. But we can pledge to use all elements
of American power to protect our people and to promote our interests
and ideals, starting with principled, focused and sustained American
diplomacy.” (and)
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