Change mind-set, improve US relations: RI diplomat
Irawaty Wardany, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 07/16/2011 9:43 AM
Indonesia's top diplomat to the US says the people of both nations must abandon their prejudices to improve bilateral relations.
“It is critical for us to change our mind-sets in order to improve the relationship with the US,” Indonesian Ambassador to the US Dino Patti Djalal said on Friday.
Dino made his comments from Washington when speaking to US Ambassador to Indonesia Scot Marciel during a video conference hosted by @america, the American cultural center, in Jakarta.
Indonesians were ambivalent about the US, Dino said, aware of a need for US support while concerned about the apparent lack of US support for Muslims in the Middle East.
Old mind-sets and conspiracy thinking had to be abandoned if Indonesia and the US were to take their relationship to the next level, Dino said.
“This is 21st century. We should not just do business as usual.We should keep asking three questions: why not, what if and what more can we do to develop our relationship," Dino said.
