[Kabar-indonesia] 5 Bush in Asia Reports: Jakarta Seeks Palestinian Timetable

[Joyo3]

5 reports:

- Indonesia Seeks Timetable From Bush On Palestinian State

- Bush Sets Out Goals for Cooperation With Asia on Trade
and Security

- LATimes: Bush's Asia trip to focus on trade, terrorism
[Central to Bush's visit is an economic summit in Vietnam,
where the war in Iraq may elicit some uncomfortable
parallels.]

- Kicking Off Asia Trip, Bush Talks Trade With Singapore PM

- Bush launches Asia trip in Singapore

Associated Press
November 16, 2006

Indonesia Seeks Timetable From Bush On Palestinian State

JAKARTA (AP)--Indonesia will call on U.S. President George
W. Bush to set a timetable for the establishment of an
independent Palestinian state, a government spokesman said
Thursday.

Bush will pass through the world's most populous Muslim
nation for several hours Monday to hold brief but wide-
ranging talks with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, with
the Middle East crisis high on the agenda.

"In the past, the U.S. said it supported the establishment
of Palestinian state in 2005," said Dino Pati Djalal, adding
that despite the pledge the situation "is getting
complicated and the peace prospects are not yet clear."

Djalal said Indonesia would push Bush to intensify efforts
because the U.S. - along with the United Nations, the
European Union and Russia - is part of the so-called Quartet
of Mideast mediators.

"We welcome that the U.S. says it supports the establishment
of a Palestinian state," he said. "We want to make sure
that...it is not delayed any longer."

Indonesia doesn't have diplomatic relations with Israel.

---------------------------

Dow Jones Newswires
November 16, 2006

Bush Sets Out Goals for Cooperation With Asia on Trade and
Security

By HENRY J. PULIZZI

SINGAPORE -- President Bush, in his first foray overseas
since last week's electoral setback, laid out a course for
U.S. engagement in Asia, assuring the region's leaders that
he is still committed to trans-Pacific cooperation on trade,
North Korea and other issues. "America will remain engaged
in Asia because our interests depend on the expansion of
freedom and opportunity in this region," Mr. Bush said in a
speech Thursday at the National University of Singapore. "We
must maintain our presence in the Pacific."

With many in Asia concerned that the Democrats' takeover of
Congress could herald a shift in U.S. trade policy, Mr.
Bush's address, delivered on the first day of a weeklong
trip through Asia, included a call to revitalize the World
Trade Organization's stagnant Doha trade talks and consider
creating an Asia-Pacific free-trade area. "I believe this
idea deserves serious consideration," he said.

After taping his weekly radio address early Friday, Mr. Bush
will leave Singapore for Hanoi, where the Vietnamese
government is playing host to the annual summit of leaders
from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC. On the
sidelines of the two-day forum, Mr. Bush will have one-on-
one meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese
President Hu Jintao and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe,
among others.

Though a focus of the summit is trade, Mr. Bush won't be
able to deliver one of his goals -- permanent normal trade
status for Vietnam, which failed to pass the House of
Representatives on Monday. Though the White House says it is
optimistic the bill will ultimately pass, its initial
failure is a setback for an administration seeking to
reassure Asia that the U.S. remains committed to free trade.

But Mr. Bush directly addressed concerns that protectionist
sentiment is on the ascent in the U.S. "We hear voices
calling for us to retreat from the world and close our doors
to its opportunities," he said. "These are the old
temptations of isolationism and protectionism, and America
must reject them."

The APEC leaders are expected to call for a resumption of
the Doha talks, which collapsed in July amid differences
between the U.S. and Europe over farm subsidies and tariffs.
Mr. Bush said reviving Doha is critical to boosting economic
growth, and he called on APEC to push for progress. "Only an
ambitious Doha agreement with real market access can achieve
the economic growth and development goals that the world has
set," he said. "We look to nations across the Asia-Pacific
region to help put these vital talks back on track."

Mr. Bush's vision of U.S. engagement in Asia goes beyond
trade to areas such as disease prevention, poverty
eradication and energy security. He pledged to continue
working with Japan, China, South Korea and Russia to
convince Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear ambitions. He
called North Korea's decision to return to the six-party
talks "an encouraging step" and urged Pyongyang to give up
its nuclear weapons and programs.

"America's position is clear, the transfer of nuclear
weapons or material by North Korea to state or non-state
entities would be considered a grave threat to the United
States. And we would hold North Korea fully accountable for
the consequences of such actions," Mr. Bush said. "For the
sake of peace, it is vital that the nations of this region
send a message to North Korea, that the proliferation of
nuclear technologies to hostile regimes or terrorist
networks will not be tolerated."
On other issues, Mr. Bush lauded a partnership designed to
safeguard against nuclear proliferation and promote civilian
nuclear energy, and cited progress in stopping the spread of
bird flu.

Separately, in an example of U.S.-Vietnamese business
cooperation, state-owned Vietnam Coal & Minerals Corp., or
Vinacomin, has signed a contract with U.S.-based AES Corp.
to build a coal-fired power plant at a cost of $1.4 billion
in Quang Ninh province, a Vinacomin official said Thursday.
The province, rich in coal, is about 250 kilometers east of
Hanoi.

"This is the first and largest coal-fired to be built by a
U.S. company [in Vietnam], and it is expected to start
operating in 2010," said Nguyen Duc Thao, director of
Vinacomin's electricity department.

The 2,000-megawatt plant will be built under a build-
operate-transfer contract in which investors build
infrastructure, run it for a given period of time, then hand
it over to the government. Vinacomin will contribute 10% of
the total fund, while AES will contribute 90% for the plant
which has an operational license for 30 years, Mr. Thao
said.

--Nguyen Pham Muoi in Hanoi contributed to this article.

------------------------

The Los Angeles Times
November 16, 2006

Bush's Asia trip to focus on trade, terrorism

Central to Bush's visit is an economic summit in Vietnam,
where the war in Iraq may elicit some uncomfortable
parallels.

By James Gerstenzang

SINGAPORE -- President Bush arrived here today to begin an
Asian tour knitting together the twin issues of economic
security and counter-terrorism that are at the center of his
agenda for the final two years of his presidency.

Over five days, the trip will take Bush from Singapore to
Hanoi, for a Pacific Rim economic summit, and to Ho Chi Minh
City and Indonesia, where he will seek cooperation in the
campaign against terrorism.

Bush, who left Washington on Tuesday, spent two nights
aboard Air Force One, flying by way of Moscow.

During a refueling stop Wednesday at Vnukovo II
International Airport, the president and First Lady Laura
Bush spent about 90 minutes with Russian President Vladimir
V. Putin, and his wife, Lyudmila, lunching on Kamchatka
crab, pancakes with red and black caviar, and other Russian
delicacies.

The Russian news media said the presidents discussed efforts
to persuade Iran to freeze its nuclear enrichment program
and Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization,
which will probably get a boost in Hanoi. Bush's trip is
centered on a three-day visit to Vietnam, his first and the
second by a U.S. president since the end of the Vietnam War.
President Clinton visited in November 2000, two months
before leaving office.

Although the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit is
focused on economic and trade issues, it takes place against
the backdrop of the anti-terrorism campaign, the rise of
China as an economic and diplomatic presence, and the loss
of Republican Party foreign policy dominance after the
congressional election.

"All Asian friends will be watching initially President Bush
and his team in terms of his body language, his statements,
to see whether he will be weakened or committed to going
forward with a broad and purposeful agenda in Asia as a
whole," said Kurt Campbell, a former senior Pentagon
official and senior vice president of the Center for
Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think
tank.

One of the first tests of Bush's ability to move forward is
the challenge posed by North Korea's explosion of a nuclear
device on Oct. 9. It will probably be a central topic on the
sidelines of the summit.

Speaking with reporters last week, Stephen Hadley, Bush's
national security advisor, said there was a possibility that
the government in Pyongyang "would take some action" during
the summit to demonstrate its belligerence.

As the place where the foreign policy of several U.S.
presidents went awry, Vietnam will prove a challenge for
Bush.

Critics may find it easy to draw parallels between the war
in Iraq and the war in Vietnam: fighting with no sign that
the administration's political goals are being met; a steady
drain on the U.S. military; daily casualty reports in the
news media; popular opinion in the United States and beyond
turning against the president; and growing evidence of civil
war.

For Vietnam, Bush's visit is part of a diplomatic coming-out
party more than 31 years after the communists' victory led
to the country's unification.

The 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum is
being held in Vietnam for the first time, lending legitimacy
to the Hanoi government and recognition to its powerful
economic engine.

Vietnam's economy has grown dramatically after the
introduction of market reforms. Last year, it grew at a rate
of 8.4%, although per-capita income was a meager $638.

The annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
forum, which was established in 1989, brings together
leaders from the Pacific Rim with the goal of advancing
economic growth, opening trade and promoting trade-related
security.

The participating countries account for 40% of the world's
population, 56% of its economic output and 48% of world
trade. For Bush, Singapore is an appropriate launching point
for a trip linking economic, diplomatic and security
concerns.

The country has been a historic center of Southeast Asian
trade, has maintained close ties with the United States,
particularly to Republican presidents, and is an ally of the
administration in the U.S.-declared war on terrorism.

With connections throughout the region, Singapore also
offers Bush perspectives on China's growth and conditions in
Indonesia, the most populous Muslim nation, said Campbell,
the think tank analyst. Bush's final stop there Monday has
been limited to about six hours because of security
concerns.

The president scheduled a series of meetings with
Singaporean leaders today, followed by a speech at the
National University of Singapore that is expected to focus
on economic security and the fight against terrorism,
disease and poverty.

Before the afternoon meetings, the president was expected to
tour the Asian Civilizations Museum, which features 1,300
artifacts of Chinese, Southeast Asian, South Asian and West
Asian Islamic cultures.

Times staff writer David Holley in Moscow contributed to
this report.

--------------------------

Dow Jones Newswires
November 16, 2006

Kicking Off Asia Trip, Bush Talks Trade With Singapore PM

By Henry J. Pulizzi

SINGAPORE (Dow Jones)--Kicking off his three-country swing
through Asia, U.S. President George W. Bush discussed trade
and terrorism with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien
Loong Thursday.

"We had a wide-ranging discussion," Bush said after meeting
Lee in the Istana, which houses the prime minister's
offices. The leaders discussed "our desire to promote free
and fair trade," Bush said. "Your country has shown that
open markets are capable of lifting up an entire people."

In addition to economics, Lee said terrorism was discussed.
"Our interests are aligned," the prime minister said.

Later Thursday, Bush will speak at the National University
of Singapore, an address the White House says will highlight
the ways the U.S. and its Asian allies are working together
to fight poverty, disease, and terrorism and promote energy
security.

"He will lay out his vision for building a hopeful, peaceful
set of societies in Asia that can meet these various
challenges," National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley said.

Bush is expected to mention U.S. support for an Asia-Pacific
free trade area, though that idea - unveiled in 1994 - is
likely to remain on the back burner as trade officials
attempt to revive the stalled Doha global trade talks.
For Bush, the trip to Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia marks
his return to the world stage since the Democrats took
control of Congress earlier this month, a shift that
prompted worries in Asia that the U.S. will become more
hostile to a free-trade agenda. Those fears were exacerbated
after the House of Representatives failed to pass a measure
on Monday granting permanent normal trade status to Vietnam,
Asia's fastest growing economy.

Though the White House is optimistic the legislation will be
passed next month, Bush will arrive in Hanoi Friday without
a legislative victory that analysts said would have
indicated that Congressional Democrats will be cooperative
on trade issues.

Bush arrived in Singapore early Thursday after a journey
that included a brief social visit with Russian President
Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Though the White House billed the
meeting between the men and their wives as largely social,
Bush and Putin discussed North Korea and Iran. They'll meet
again in Hanoi, with a final bilateral agreement on Russia's
accession to the World Trade Organization expected to be
unveiled.

That could help Putin and Bush put a positive spin on U.S.-
Russia relations and paper over differences in approach to
curtailing Iran's nuclear ambitions.

In Singapore Thursday, Bush eased into his otherwise event-
packed eight-day Asia trip. He began the day by visiting the
city-state's Asian Civilisations Museum and greeting U.S.
embassy staff. On Friday, he's scheduled to meet Australiam
Prime Minister John Howard - a staunch ally on Iraq - in
Hanoi and sit down with Vietnam's president and prime
minister before attending a state banquet dinner.

Over the weekend, Bush will participate in the APEC leaders
summit and hold bilateral meetings with South Korean
President Roh Moo-hyun, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
and Chinese President Hu Jintao.

-------------------------

Agence France-Presse
November 16, 2006

Bush launches Asia trip in Singapore

US President George W. Bush, hobbled by Iraq and an election
defeat, has launched a week-long Asian visit looking to flex
diplomatic muscle and promote US security and trade ties to
the region.

Bush arrived in Singapore on the first leg of a trip that
will also take him to Vietnam -- for a state visit and the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum summit -- and
then to Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation.

He hoped to make progress in promoting democratic and free-
market reforms, tackling the North Korean nuclear crisis,
and to banish doubts about his strength after November 7 US
elections gave Democrats the US Congress.

But even before the opposition party formally takes over in
January, Bush suffered an embarrassing blow when US
lawmakers refused to liberalize trade with Vietnam -- a gift
he had hoped to bring to the APEC summit in Hanoi.

The Democratic victory has piled pressure on him to change
course in Iraq and contemplate means other than six-country
talks to convince North Korea to accept an incentives
package and abandon its nuclear weapons programs.

Bush was to meet on APEC's sidelines with the leaders of
China, Japan, Russia and South Korea to try to hold together
the fractious group of powers dealing with North Korea and
agree on goals for the next round of talks.

In Singapore, Bush was to meet with the staunch US ally's
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and acting President J.Y.
Pillay, and use the keynote speech of his Asia trip to
highlight the history of US ties to the region and promise
lasting engagement, aides said.

Upon arrival, Bush quickly set to the job of highlighting US
interest with a visit to the Asian Civilizations Museum,
where 10 musicians seated on an oriental carpet treated him
to a concert, and schoolchildren danced and waved peacock
feathers.

Grasping a rubber mallet, the US president also gamely tried
to bang out a melody on a saron, a traditional Indonesian
instrument resembling a xylophone.

In his speech, Bush was to push for expanding cooperation on
challenges such as terrorism and bird flu, and for deepening
democratic and free-market reforms -- but US officials said
this was not a veiled slap at China.

"The speech isn't going to be a poke in the eye" of Beijing,
White House national security adviser Stephen Hadley told
reporters aboard Air Force One.

Bush will focus on "what freedom and democracy since the end
of the Second World War have done to help transform Asia,"
as well as "the things that make for prosperity and to raise
people out of poverty -- things like free trade and free
markets," said Hadley.

Bush would also promote his efforts to tie aid to "good
government" practices such as battling corruption, investing
in education and public health, and promoting free trade and
free markets, said Hadley.

The US president was eager to show Asian leaders that the US
congressional elections -- and the unofficial start of the
race to replace him in 2008 -- would not force him into a
supporting role on the global stage.

"They're going to be all looking to see how he plays the
game after this political setback," Bush's former top
national security council aide for Asia, Michael Green, told
reporters last week.

Bush was to hold bilateral talks on APEC's sidelines with
Australian Prime Minister John Howard, Russian President
Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Hu Jintao, South Korean
President Roh Moo-hyun, and have his first meeting with
Japan's Shinzo Abe since he became prime minister in
September. Bush was also to meet with a group of all seven
Southeast Asian leaders attending the APEC summit -- from
Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand and Vietnam.

In Vietnam, Bush and the other APEC leaders would discuss
for the first time the feasibility of forging a free trade
agreement among the 21 economies, which accounted for nearly
half of world trade and generated 70 percent of global
economic growth, US officials said.

The free trade plan comes amid a deadlock in talks to forge
a new global trade accord.

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