Dick Lugar: “today I rise to commend to Senators the Report of the National Commission on U.S.-Indonesian Relations issued today by…”

“today I rise to commend to Senators the Report of the National Commission on U.S.-Indonesian Relations issued today by the United States-Indonesia Society. This report is the culmination of more than one year of work by the Commission, whose co-chairs are former Secretary of State George Shultz, my fellow Hoosier and former Congressman Lee Hamilton, and George Russell, Chairman Emeritus of the Frank Russell Company. This report will be an important point of reference for members of Congress and the public as a whole as the future course of Indonesia-U.S. relations is debated. I, for one, believe that the significance of Indonesia to Asia and to the world is often underappreciated. A relatively new democracy, Indonesia is home to the world's largest Muslim population and overall is the world's fourth most populous nation. The U.S. trade deficit with Indonesia is decreasing. U.S. exports of goods to Indonesia in 2002 were $2.6 billion, up 2.4 percent from the previous year and U.S. imports from Indonesia were $9.6 billion, down 4.6 percent from 2001. The Commission's report examines the U.S.-Indonesia relationship and outlines policies and programs that 'will help strengthen the nation's prospects for success.' Education, democratization, economic growth and security are areas for emphasis highlighted by the Commission.”