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HIGHLIGHTS: Indonesia president's state of nation address
14 Aug 2009 03:02:17 GMT
 Source: Reuters
JAKARTA, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is due to beging his second term in office in October after winning elections in July, gave on Friday his annual state of the nation address to parliament.

Following are highlights from his prepared speech.

ECONOMY

"In future, we must strengthen our domestic economy, our domestic market and not just depend on strong exports as the source of our economic development. Because of this, an export oriented economic strategy is clearly not our choice.

We cannot depend too much on other nations or the world. We want, increasingly, to use our own resources and cultural strengths, to strengthen our position as an independent nation.

We must become a nation that can fulfil our own basic needs. A nation that is not trapped by a burdensome debt. A nation that is not dictated to either politically, economically or militarily by any other country."

We must maintain higher economic growth...our economic growth remains positive above 4 percent per year, one of the highest economic growth rates in the world. Thankfully our poverty rates have fallen to 14.1 percent in March 2009 from 16.7 percent in 2004. And the jobless level fell to 8.1 percent in February 2009 from 9.9 percent in 2004.

SECURITY

"It is shameful that the stability of security, which was improving, was disturbed by terrorist acts a month ago.

The act of terrorism to bomb public places is an inhuman act. The victims were innocent people, either citizens of friendly states or Indonesian citizens.

The terrorists want us be tense with fear and to disrupt our daily activities.

Thanks be to God, Indonesia is big nation, a strong nation, that is able to face any challenge, including terrorism.

Today, we can see the rupiah value and our stock index even stronger. Various economic activities and other activities continue to go on.

In this particular terrorist act, there were new terror symptoms which include terrorist acts directly targeted against their own nation, including a plan to assassinate the head of state.

At this time, I want to stress that our nation will not lose against terrorism.

I have asked the police forces and security forces to never weaken. Continue to be on alert, to prevent and eradicate terrorist acts and their roots, where ever they may be found, whoever the perpetrators are and whatever their motivation.

Throughout Indonesian society, let us all unite to fight terrorism. Help the security forces by giving information on terrorists that are hiding within our society.

We know that terrorist acts have many primary causes, such as poverty, backwardness and injustice throughout the world and that they are the roots of radicalism. On this issue, the development we are trying to encourage aims to overcome poverty, backwardness and injustice."

GOVERNANCE

"Efforts to develop good governance and eradicate corruption must continue to be increased.

We expect that the law and justice will continue to be upheld, so that corruption, collusion and nepotism continue to be eradicated. We will strive to create a nation of good governance.

We have applied the principles of good governance and aggressive corruption eradication. In this country, no one is above the law."

REFORM OF ARMED FORCES

"God willing, this year we will conclude the TNI's (Indonesian military's) excessive role in the state, which until now has often invited controversy. By doing this, the TNI can truly concentrate on their primary task as a professional force capable of defending our country. To overcome disruptions to domestic security, we will choose a more dignified, democratic and peaceful way which also preserves the sovereignty and integrity of the Indonesian state."

With the end of conflict and military operations in the country, the military's task to preserve peace internationally and is to train to improve their professionalism in accordance with international military standards."

ENVIRONMENT

"We have already felt for ourselves the consequences of environmental damage, such as landslides, floods, forest fires and so on. We must encourage a form of development that is environmentally friendly.

We will take seriously our responsibility to continue to preserve the tropical forests that are an asset for the whole world in reducing emissions and greenhouse gases. We must succeed because this is not just in the interests of Indonesia but in the interests of humanity and the earth."

(Compiled by Muklis Ali and Sunanda Creagh; Editing by Ed Davies)


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Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono addresses the state budget in parliament in Jakarta in this August 3, 2009 file photo. Indonesian police shot dead a man suspected to be leading Islamic ...


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Last updated:Fri Aug 14 03:06:05 2009