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US Indonesia warmth for Clinton | US Indonesia warmth for Clinton |
(about 3 hours later) | |
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has met Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and appeared on a TV chat show in Indonesia. | US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has met Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and appeared on a TV chat show in Indonesia. |
She promised greater US efforts to build peace in the Middle East, a top concern of many Muslims in Indonesia. | |
Her visit to Jakarta was filled with mutual admiration as she praised Indonesia's democracy and freedoms. | |
After Jakarta she headed to South Korea, amid rising tension on the Korean peninsula. | |
Ahead of her arrival in Seoul, North Korea issued a warning to Seoul that it was ready for "all-out confrontation" - the latest in a series of similar statements from Pyongyang. | |
Mrs Clinton's visit also comes amid speculation North Korea may be preparing to test-fire a long-range missile, something that the US secretary has said would be "extremely unhelpful". Middle East pledge | |
Hillary Clinton began the day by appearing on a leading TV chat show in Jakarta, where she spoke of her favourite music - the Beatles and the Rolling Stones - and tackled world issues. | |
Asked about the recent conflict in the Middle East, she pledged greater US engagement. | |
"We felt like the United States had not been as active in trying to bring the parties together to resolve the conflict," she said. | |
"We're going to work very hard to resolve what has been such a painful and difficult conflict for so many years." | |
She also announced her intention to attend a donors' pledging conference for rebuilding Gaza, to be held in Egypt in early March. Indonesia can be a good partner for the US in reaching out to the Muslim world Hassan WirajudaIndonesian foreign minister | |
Many Indonesians have been deeply troubled by US policy in the Middle East and the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. | Many Indonesians have been deeply troubled by US policy in the Middle East and the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. |
Mrs Clinton had earlier praised Indonesia, where the majority of people profess a tolerant Islam, for achieving democracy, women's rights and religious freedom. | |
She also announced plans to re-start the Peace Corps programme of American volunteers to Indonesia, which had been stopped in the 1960s. | She also announced plans to re-start the Peace Corps programme of American volunteers to Indonesia, which had been stopped in the 1960s. |
Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said Indonesia could perform a powerful bridging role. | Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said Indonesia could perform a powerful bridging role. |
"Indonesia can be a good partner for the US in reaching out to the Muslim world," he said. | |
Rising tensions | Rising tensions |
In Seoul, Hillary Clinton's attention is set to focus on security concerns and North Korea's nuclear programme. | |
South Korea wants the US to help restart stalled six-party talks aimed at ending Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions. | |
The BBC's state department correspondent, Kim Ghattas, says that North Korea's sabre-rattling over the past few weeks is seen as an attempt to grab the attention of the Obama administration and improve its bargaining position when the talks eventually resume. | |
Mrs Clinton has warned North Korea against any provocative action and said Washington would be watching closely. |