SPEECH BY MR S R NATHAN, PRESIDENT, AT THE STATE DINNER HELD IN HONOUR OF H.E. PRESIDENT SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO AND FIRST LADY IBU KRISTIANI OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA, 15 FEBRUARY 2005, 7.30 PM AT THE ISTANA BANQUET ROOM
Your Excellency, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,
President of the Republic of Indonesia, and Ibu Ani,
Mr Prime Minister and Mrs Lee Hsien Loong,
Honourable Ministers,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is with great pleasure that my wife and I extend our warmest welcome to Your Excellency President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Ibu Ani and distinguished members of your delegation to Singapore.
Your Excellency is an old friend of Singapore. The government and people of Singapore are deeply honoured by your visit, your first since you were elected President of the Republic of Indonesia. It reflects the strong bonds of friendship and cooperation between our two countries.
May I take this opportunity to extend our warmest congratulations to Your Excellency on your election as Indonesia's first directly elected President. You have received an overwhelming mandate from the people of Indonesia. It is a testimony of the trust and confidence they place in your leadership and your vision for Indonesia. The peaceful and successful election, when millions of Indonesians spread over more than 13,000 islands made free choices, has earned Indonesia accolades from around the world. Indonesia now stands at a historic turning point and has become a shining example to countries around the world.
Bapak Presiden,
You are no stranger to formidable challenges and adversity. You have served Indonesia with humility and resolve. Yours has been an illustrious career in the TNI and in Cabinet. In each of these responsibilities, through years of hard work, you have shown your devotion to duty, compassion and progress. This is becoming the hallmark of your Presidency.
Indonesia, and indeed the region, has been put to severe tests in the past, but nothing like the terrible earthquake and tsunami that occurred on 26 December 2004. Your Excellency, I speak for all Singaporeans when I extend our deepest condolences to you and all Indonesians affected by this terrible tragedy.
Despite the shock and severe blow it received, the Government of Indonesia, under your direction, responded quickly and vigorously to the disaster. You yourself visited Aceh five times to take charge and personally supervise the emergency relief efforts. The indomitable spirit of the Indonesian people shone through these challenging circumstances.
Under your able Chairmanship, the Special ASEAN Summit in Jakarta on 6 January 2005 not only drew high level participation but focused the global community's attention on the relief and reconstruction needs of the affected countries. The Summit helped mobilize critical resources for relief, and reconstruction, and raised the international stature of Indonesia and ASEAN. The Summit showed ASEAN's resilience, and its capacity to rise to the occasion and take the lead in tackling the consequences of this devastating calamity.
Our region is still recovering. We are rebuilding lives disrupted and communities destroyed by this unprecedented disaster. For this we must salute you, Bapak Presiden, for your steady leadership which at a critical time not only gave renewed hope to all Indonesians, but also encouraged others similarly affected by the calamity.
Bapak Presiden,
Singapore stood with Indonesia at that critical moment. As a close friend and neighbour we responded quickly to the disaster.
The Singapore Armed Forces worked closely with TNI to bring critically needed medical care and emergency supplies to tens of thousands of people in Aceh. As you know Bapak Presiden, ordinary Singaporeans, moved by the heart wrenching images of devastation, stepped forward spontaneously to do what they could to help. There was an outpouring of compassion in Singapore. Seeing the death and suffering in Aceh and elsewhere, we felt that we could do no less.
Aceh's recovery and reconstruction will take time. Singapore will continue to do what we can to support your efforts to help the people in Aceh rebuild their lives. I am confident that Indonesia, under your leadership, will not only overcome but emerge from this tragedy stronger and more united.
Bapak Presiden,
You have articulated a long term vision for a strong, united and prosperous Indonesia. The 2004-2009 Five Year Plan has been completed, laying out your agenda for your term as President. The positive reviews of the Infrastructure Summit reflect a new mood of optimism and hope. You have moved to deal with the multi-faceted domestic, regional and global challenges confronting Indonesia. These issues are inherently complex and require long term solutions. But you have begun to build the essential foundations for stability and development.
Indonesia's success in restoring its economy and stability will contribute greatly to the dynamism of the region. Indonesia and Singapore, as founding members of ASEAN, must work together to strengthen ASEAN's political and economic integration and restore its political and strategic relevance. This is critical at a time when major economic changes are reshaping the strategic landscape in Asia. With our ASEAN partners we must ensure that major developments around us do not erode our collective will and strength. ASEAN's response to the tsunami disaster has underscored its central role in the region. We share a common vision of a united and peaceful ASEAN playing a leading role in regional affairs. Let us work together to inject a new vigour into ASEAN, while keeping it true to the ideals of its founding fathers.
Your Excellency,
Our relations are excellent and have been built on good and sound foundations. The tsunami tragedy strengthened our strong bonds as we stood together in solidarity through the crisis. Moving on, we must build on what already have been achieved, and find new ways to expand our areas of cooperation.
We may have our occasional issues, as two very close neighbours anywhere in the world would have. But our overall relationship is much broader and stronger, and is based on cooperation and mutual benefit. This is what we must build upon together.
Our two countries have a long history of working closely for the interests of our peoples and that of our region. Our economies are closely interdependent with each being the other's major trading partner. Singapore was the top investor of Indonesia in 2002 and Singaporean companies invested in 154 projects in Indonesia in 2003. As for tourism, we are each other's top tourist generating markets in terms of tourism arrivals in 2003.
History, geography and synergy have brought our countries together. We should continue to make the most of these shared advantages to improve the welfare of our people and to meet the challenges of an unpredictable world.
I am confident that with the impetus from your State Visit to Singapore, our two countries can forge an even stronger partnership to realise our common goals and vision.
Your Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
May I ask you to join me in a toast:
• to closer relations between the Republic of Indonesia and the Republic of Singapore; and
• to the good health and success of President Yudhoyono and Ibu Ani.
. . . . .