"I think this is a very major development."
Prof Jayakumar said he welcomed her election as President by the MPR.
"It is my hope that this will enable Indonesia under her leadership to have a period of calm during which they will begin to address the very serious problems that they have had in recent times."
"Of course Indonesia's problems are complex and cannot be solved overnight but at least they will begin to start addressing these problems seriously."
"What Indonesia needs is stability, national reconciliation, and unity, and the restoration of investor confidence."
"Singapore as a close neighbour has of course been concerned." He added, "What happens in Indonesia, particularly the restoration of economic stability and recovery is also of concern to the rest of Southeast Asia and to ASEAN."
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
23 JULY 2001