OBAMA'S HOMECOMING GOOD FOR INDONESIAN TOURISM by Fardah

  Jakarta, July 4, 2017(Antara) - Barack Obama, former US president, has emotional ties with Indonesia as he had spent four years of his memorable childhood in Jakarta with his American mother and Indonesian stepfather.

         Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on August 4, 1961, Barack Hussein Obama II lived in Jakarta from 1968 until 1972.

        Many Indonesians are pleased because Obama, who had studied in a local regular elementary school in Menteng area, still remembers some of the Indonesian words such as "Apa kabar?" (How are you?), and of course, names of his favorite food such as "bakso" (meatball soup) and "sate" (grilled chicken or beef satay).

         Obama, whose skin color happens to be similar to most of Indonesians, because of a mixed marriage between his Caucasian mother and Kenyan father, had visited Jakarta for the first time as the 44th President of the US in Nov 2010.

        He had opened up about his nostalgic feeling about Indonesia, especially its people as well as local food, during his short visit that he had described as "pulang kampung" (homecoming).

        In the gala dinner hosted by the then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono seven years ago at the presidential palace on the evening of Nov 9, , Obama had begun his remarks by thanking the host for providing "bakso, nasi goreng, emping, kerupuk, ... semuanya enak," he said. ("the meat balls, fried rice, crackers .... They were all delicious").

        While speaking at the University of Indonesia (UI), on the southern outskirt of Jakarta on Nov 10, 2010, Obama had thrilled Indonesians by declaring "Saya bagian dari Indonesia (I am part of Indonesia)." He had expressed keenness to bring his two daughters to Indonesia some day.

OBAMA'S BALI VACATION TO PROMOTE INDONESIAN TOURISM by Fardah

 Jakarta, June 27, 2017 (Antara) - Barack Obama has fulfilled his promise to spend holidays with his family in Indonesia, which he often referred to as "pulang kampung," or homecoming.

           During his visit to Jakarta in November 2010, Obama had expressed keenness to bring his two daughters to Indonesia one day.

           Seven years later, on June 23, 2017, he along with his wife, Michele and two daughters, Malia and Sasha, aboard a Gulfstream N50JE chartered jet, finally landed at the I Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali.         
     Apart from his immediate family, Obama also brought along his stepsister Maya Soetoro and her family and some employees, with the number of people in his delegation reaching 14.

           The 44th US president was welcomed upon arrival by Bali's Governor Made Mangku Pastika, Chief of the IX/Udayana Military Command Major General Komaruddin Simanjuntak, Chief of the Denpasar Resort Police Senior Commissioner Hadi Purnomo, and Commander of the Ngurah Rai Air Base Colonel Wayan Superman.

          The Obamas plan to stay for five days until June 28 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sayan, Ubud, Gianyar District, which is located about 40 kilometers from the airport.

          This is Obama's second visit to Bali. During the first visit, he had attended the ASEAN Summit in 2011 as the US president. At that time, however, he was not accompanied by his family.

          This time, his holiday is a personal trip; hence the Indonesian authorities do not have the details of their agenda.

INDONESIA HOPES US WOULD REMAIN OPEN, TOLERANT COUNTRY by Fardah

Jakarta, Jan 4, 2017 (Antara) - Thank God, Indonesia, the largest Muslim-majority country, is not on the list of "Muslim travel ban" executive order signed by new US President Donald Trump on Jan 27, 2017, a week after his presidential inauguration.

            The controversial executive order restricts immigration from a number of Middle Eastern and African countries, temporarily bars most refugees from entering the United States and blocks visas from being issued to citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, namely Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

        In response to a press question, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has urged Indonesians not to worry about the US policy because it would not affect Indonesia.

        "There is no direct impact on Indonesia," Jokowi said recently, adding that, however, the constitutional principles of equality and justice should be pursued.
      Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi has advised Indonesian nationals living in the United States to stay calm after the executive order was signed.

INDONESIA REMAINS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT BILATERAL TIES WITH THE US by Fardah

 Jakarta, Jan 23 (Antara) - The Indonesian government remains optimistic about its bilateral relations with the US following Donald Trump's inauguration as the 45th president of the global superpower, as Indonesia's main concern is its exports to the US.

         While the US trade policy under President Trump might potentially lead to protectionism, it will not significantly affect Indonesian exports to the US, according to Director of the Executive Center of Reform on Economics Mohammad Faisal.

         The US was Indonesia's major trading partner, with trade balance reaching US$19.27 billion during the January-October 2016 period.

         Indonesia's export products to the US are mostly sought-after commodities, such as rubber, shrimp, and furniture, and it also includes manufactured products, such as footwear and textiles, he pointed out.

         "The US is forecast to maintain its importation of products, including textiles, garments, and footwear, from countries that use cheap labor force, such as Vietnam and Indonesia," he added.

         Following his telephonic conversation to congratulate Trump, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) expressed optimism that bilateral relations between Indonesia and the US will remain sound.

         "I am optimistic that the relations between Indonesia and the US will be better, but it should be based on mutual benefits," the president stated in Bogor, West Java, on January 22, 2017.

         Jokowi recalled that during their telephonic conversation, Trump told him that he had several friends and businesses in Indonesia.

US SHOULD THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATE CHAPEL HILL MURDERS: INDONESIA by Fardah

    Jakarta, Feb 16, 2015 (Antara) - A cartoon with accompanying text "Muslims are newsworthy only when they kill, not when they are killed," is in circulation on the social media following last week's Chapel Hills tragedy.

       The cartoon depicts three newsmen, each covering his mouth, eyes, and ears, has been circulated to describe how the Western media view the killings of three young Muslims in Chapel Hills, North Carolina.

       Newly-wed couple Deah Shaddy Barakat (23), a University of North Carolina dental student, his wife Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha (21), and her sister Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha (19), a student at North Carolina State University were killed in a Chapel Hills condominium in North Carolina on Feb. 10, 2015.

        The murders of the three Muslims by their neighbor Craig Hicks have not received any immediate attention from major Western media nor from leaders such as US President Barack Obama, who was quick to respond after the Charlie Hebdo tragedy.

Indonesia hails re-election of Obama, `the Menteng Kid` by Fardah

    Jakarta Nov 10, 2012 (ANTARA News) - Following re-election of US President Barack Obama, many Indonesians have hailed the victory of `The Menteng Kid.`
    Obama spent a few years of his childhood in Indonesia, from 1967 through 1971, with his mother and Indonesian stepfather. He studied at an elementary school in the Menteng area of Central Jakarta.
     He had described his visit as `pulang kampong` or home coming, when he visited Jakarta in November 2010. He spoke several Indonesian words, and especially mentioned his favorite Indonesian food such as `baso` (meat ball) and satem (satay or grilled chicken/meat).
     Obama even thrilled Indonesians by declaring "Saya bagian dari Indonesia (I am part of Indonesia)" while speaking at the University of Indonesia (UI), on the southern outskirts of Jakarta, two years ago, on November 10, 2010.

US MILY PRESENCE IN DARWIN AROUSES SUSPICION IN MANY QUARTERS by Fardah

     Jakarta, Nov 23, 2011 (ANTARA) - US President Barack Obama and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard reportedly assured President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyonp in separate meetings in Bali recently that the planned deployment of US troops in Darwin spelled no harm to Indonesia or the South East Asian region.

        However, Obama`s and Gillard`s assurances have failed to convince some legislators and political observers in Indonesia, which is located only around 820 km (500 miles) from Darwin, Australia, where the US has decided to set up a military presence.

HTI again says "no" to Obama visit by Fardah

     Jakarta, Nov 15, 2011 (ANTARA News) - A year ago, Barack Obama as the US president, made his first visit to Indonesia which he described as "pulang kampung" (home coming) because he had once spent his childhood at Menteng, Jakarta.
     His visit in November 2010 was welcomed by many parties and Obama was even able to "charm" a few Indonesians when he spoke at the University of Indonesia.
     But, for sure, "the Menteng kid" has not succeeded in changing the stance of Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) Muslim organization which has rejected him since the beginning.

EXPLORING SEA FLOOR TO CEMENT RI-US SCIENCE COOPERATION by Fardah

     Jakarta, Jan 8, 2011 (ANTARA) - US President Barack Obama when visiting Indonesia in November 2010, said that the US government was sincerely striving to cooperate with the Muslim world through various approaches, including science cooperation with Indonesia.
     He and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono formalized a new Comprehensive Partnership agreement between the US and Indonesia in Jakarta, on November 9, 2010.

Nostalgic Obama charms Indonesians by Fardah

     Jakarta, Nov 10, 2010 (ANTARA News) - The brief visit of US President Barack Obama, especially thanks to his smart interactions with the Indonesian leaders and people directly and indirectly, has been a great success for both Obama and Indonesia.
     Obama, who had spent around four years during his childhood in Jakarta and joined local elementary schools, opened up about his nostalgic feeling about Indonesia, especially its people as well as local food, during his short visit in Jakarta.
    Equally, many Indonesians have loved him since he had declared his US presidential candidacy. Unfortunately some of them "had lost" interest in Obama due among other things to the fact that he twice canceled a trip to Jakarta earlier this year, the slow progress in US-sponsored Middle East peace talks, his policies on Iraq and Afghanistan.

Obama's visit and alleged hidden imperialistic agenda by Fardah

    Jakarta, Nov 8, 2010 (ANTARA News) - After twice canceling his planned visit to Indonesiam namely in March and June this year, it is almost certain that US President Barack Obama will finally land in Jakarta Tuesday (Nov 9) despite the Mount Merapi eruptions.
     Obama`s spokesman, Robert Gibbs, said in New Delhi Monday morning (Nov 8) that US officials were monitoring travel conditions closely due to the ongoing Mount Merapi eruption, but they were "proceeding with plans to depart for Indonesia" Tuesday (Nov 9), Associated Press reported.
     Indonesia is scheduled to be the second stop on Obama`s four-country trip through Asia, covering India, Indonesia, South Korea and Japan.

AMERIKA MALU KARENA BELUM MERATIFIKASI KONVENSI KEANEKARAGAMAN HAYATI

     Jakarta, 8/11/1995 (ANTARA) - Pemerintah Amerika Serikat merasa malu karena Senat AS menolak untuk meratifikasi Konvensi Keanekaragaman Hayati, kata Timothy Wirth, Direktur Jenderal untuk Masalah-masalah Global, Deplu AS.
        "Pemerintahan Presiden Clinton sangat mendukung Perjanjian Keanekaragaman Hayati tersebut dan telah menandatanganinya tahun lalu. Kami akan terus membujuk Senat untuk meratifikasi konvensi itu," ujar Wirth dari Washington DC dalam acara Worldnet Dialogue (wawancara jarak jauh) dengan Koko Sunyoto dari RCTI, Maria Hartiningsi dari Kompas dan Fardah Assegaf dari LKBN ANTARA di Jakarta, Rabu.

AS INGINKAN PENYELESAIAN MASALAH KAMPUCHEA SECARA MENYELURUH

    Paris, 31/7/1989 (ANTARA) - Amerika Serikat menghendaki penyelesaian menyeluruh masalah Kampuchea karena cara penyelesaian yang lain hanya akan membawa Kampuchea ke arah pertikaian yang ber-larut-larut.
        "Kami yakin penyelesaian yang mempunyai prospek berhasil haruslah bersifat menyeluruh," demikian dikemukakan Menlu AS, James Baker dalam pidatonya pada sidang pembukaan Konferensi Internasional Tentang Kampuchea (ICK) yang dimulai di Paris Minggu sore.

ANTARIKSAWATI AS KENALKAN KEGIATAN WANITA DI BIDANG LUAR ANGKASA

       Jakarta, 30/11/1987 (ANTARA) - Kedatangan antariksawati Amerika Seri- kat, Bonnie J. Dunbar ke Indonesia terutama untuk mengenalkan kepada rekan-rekannya di negara ini bahwa banyak sekali kegiatan wanita di bidang ilmu pengetahuan di AS yang berkaitan dengan luar angkasa.
        Selain itu diharapkan kunjungannya dapat terus mendekatkan hubungan yang sudah baik antara ke dua negara, menurut Menteri Pariwisata, Pos dan Telekomunikasi Achmad Tahir seusai menerima antariksawati NASA itu di kantornya, Jakarta, Senin sore.