RI responds to Obama's speech with excitement, skepticism

Lilian Budianto and Ary Hermawan ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Fri, 06/05/2009 1:39 PM  |  Headlines

Indonesian Muslims lauded President Barack Obama's "soothing" speech, which experts said highlighted the urgency to have the Arab world support US peacemaking efforts in the Middle East.

In the one-hour speech at Cairo University on Thursday, Obama underscored seven points to mend ties with the "Muslim world" after relations were strained following the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.

"Obama has to address the mother of all conflicts between Palestine and Israel before he can really reach out to the whole Muslim world," said Achmad Jainuri, rector of the Muhammadiyah University in Sidoarjo, East Java.

Abdillah Toha, a politician from the Muslim-based National Mandate Party (PAN), said Obama failed however to bring forth a "breakthrough" approach to settling the Arab-Israeli conflict.

"People are waiting for him to give a new perspective on how to solve the problem in the Middle East," he said.

Suzie Sudarman, director of the American Studies Center at the University of Indonesia, said although Obama pledged a new phase of relations with the Muslim world, "all seven points he elaborated on in the speech actually suggested ways to ensure US nationals are safe and continue to prosper".

She said Obama was seeking "trade offs" with a number of the countries he chose to visit for this Middle East tour. In Saudi Arabia, she said, Obama was trying to convince the King to work with the US handling Guantanamo Bay detainees from Yemen following the president's plan to close the controversial prison.

Zulkieflimansyah, a lawmaker from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), said the speech demonstrated a different perspective for a leader of a super power.

"He is very humble in mentioning that he would stand by the side of persecuted Muslims around the world ... that the United States would like to fight any stereotyping against Muslims," he said. "It's a rare quality."

Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsudin praised Obama's "soothing" speech, highlighting Obama's attempt to win support from Muslims by quoting the Koran. "Now we'd like to see the speech take action," he said.

During an April visit to Turkey, where the majority are modern Muslims, Obama said the US "is not and never will be at war with Islam".

Before the major speech, Obama tried to mend rifts with the Arab region and improve the tainted image of the United States through a number of actions.

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