VOA标准英语2010年-Indonesians Looking Forward to Obama's

Indonesian leaders and academics gathered today in Jakarta to discuss how U.S. President Barack Obama's upcoming visit could help build better bilateral¹ relations in areas such as education, climate change and trade.

Relations between the United States and Indonesia have seen highs and lows, over the years, but with the election of President Obama - who spent part of his childhood in Indonesia - leaders here saw a new opportunity to re-evaluate their relationship with the United States and work toward building better cooperation. 

Dino Patti Djalal, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's special advisor² on international affairs, says the current relationship is not based on sentiments, but national interests and that the United States needs to work toward achieving its own goals, while also respecting Indonesian sovereignty.

"In our relationship, we are very proud that we are an independent nation," he said. "We cannot have an alliance with anybody, not the United States, not our neighbors. So we have always been independent and that is part of our diplomatic culture and national psyche³ and, as we get on with this relationship, this diplomatic partnership⁴ it is important for America to respect that."

The U.S. image in Indonesia has taken a beating, in the past decade, after the United States withdrew investments in the wake of the 1997 Asian financial crisis and slapped sanctions on weapons sales to the Indonesian military, because of alleged⁵ human rights abuses.

With the United States increasingly looking to China, Dino says Indonesia has developed a bit of a "middle-power" complex.  However, he sees Obama's visit as an opportunity to put old issues in the past and work on building a balanced exchange.

"As we get on with America, the superpower, sometimes some people get discomforted by it, sometimes even get defensive⁶ about it. But we need to recognize that the United States is a superpower and the relationship between Indonesia and the United States has to evolve in such a way that we both are there as equal partners," he said.

Sensitive issues remain, particularly in the area of democracy building.  But Gerald Hyman, at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, says the United States should allow Indonesia to serve as an example to other nations by using its experience as a developing democracy.

"Why shouldn't Indonesians help us build democracies in Tunisia or in Tanzania or in Nicaragua?  Why is that an American project or a European project?  Why isn't that an Indonesian project as well?  Why isn't that a democracy project for those of us who define ourselves as democrats⁷?" he said.

Although politics factored in to many of Tuesday's discussions, business development, educational exchanges and climate change cooperation were also on the table.  Rachmad Witoelar, executive chairman of the Indonesian Council on Climate Change, says that, with the U.S. Congress at loggerheads on how to cut carbon emissions⁸, Mr. Obama needs to change the perception that the United States is not serious about environmental issues.

"He has to tell us that the U.S. population cares about climate change, because judging from the international news, he is being prevented from giving way to the law," said Rachmad Witoelar.

The conference ended by highlighting the need for better understanding between two countries that have their own uniquenesses but also many commonalities. That requires that both sides define how they see their role in the world and, with the United States showing some uncertainty⁹ about its interests in Southeast Asia, many of the leaders present said it is up to Indonesia to pave the way. 

 

1 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

2 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

3 psyche   

n.精神；灵魂

参考例句：

• His exploration of the myth brings insight into the American psyche.他对这个神话的探讨揭示了美国人的心理。
• She spent her life plumbing the mysteries of the human psyche.她毕生探索人类心灵的奥秘。

4 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

5 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

6 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

7 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

9 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。