World welcomes Megawati amid hopes for stability

New leader Megawati has been urged to address corruption issues in Indonesia

By CNN's Grant Holloway
in Sydney and Kirsty Alfredson in Hanoi

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- World leaders have welcomed new Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri but stressed the need for the transition of power to be managed peacfully and democratically.

Some indication of her approach should become evident with the appointment of a Vice President, expected Wednesday.

Official recognition by the Association of South East Asia Nations (ASEAN) of which Indonesia is its largest member is also due.

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Near neighbor Australia, which has often had a turbulent relationship with Indonesia, lauded Megawati as a "champion of democratic ideals."

Australian Prime Minister John Howard said in a statement the Australian Government welcomed "the peaceful resolution of political differences by the Indonesian people in accordance with the constitution".

"Australia wishes President Megawati and the people of Indonesia every success for continued democratic and economic development," Howard said.

"We will continue to give Indonesia every support in facing these challenges."

The United States State Department endorsed Megawati and urged Indonesia to maintain peace and work toward national reconciliation and ending corruption.

The State Department said Indonesia's political upheaval would provoke a fresh look at U.S. policies toward Jakarta but it was too soon to signal any possible initiatives.

"We urge all parties there to work together to maintain peace, support the constitution and promote national reconciliation," said Philip Reeker, deputy State Department spokesman.

He spokesman said one problem Indonesia must tackle was corruption.

"That will be vitally important for Indonesia, as it is for so many countries in making progress in terms of democratic reforms and economic reforms as well," Reeker said.

Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong sent Megawati a congratulatory letter, saying Megawati had in her "quiet and confident way, provided strong leadership" in Indonesia.

"We hope Indonesia will recover soon," Goh said.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi also sent a message of congratulations to the new president and reiterated Japan's support for reform in Indonesia.

Koizumi's office said in a statement, however, that embattled predecessor Abdurrahman Wahid had "made every effort to build a new Indonesia in the reform process for its democratization."

Australia also acknowledged Wahid's "significant" contribution to the transition of Indonesia to deomcracy.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in New York it was important that democratic processes appeared to have been followed in Megawati's ascension.

"The Parliament has designated Mrs. Megawati as a new president and I wish her every success," he said.

"And I hope the kind of change that is taking place now will remain peaceful, democratic and that the nation will come together to get themselves out of this difficulty."

East Timor's Foreign Minister Jose Ramos-Horta, whose own country split from Indonesia in 1999, was cautious about commenting on Megawati, who begged East Timorese not to vote for independence.

Megawati has never publicly recognized East Timor's independence and has refused to meet with Ramos-Horta or independence leader Xanana Gusmao, although they make frequent visits to Jakarta.

Media across Asia led with news from Indonesia.

In Hong Kong, English daily newspaper iMail bemoaned the fact that Wahid had accomplished so little.

"Mr. Wahid's rule began with so much promise, the hope of democratic reform, religious tolerance, economic restructuring, and tolerance of ethnic minorities, notably the Chinese," the newspaper said in an editorial.

"But it is coming to a close mired in allegations of corruption, with economic recovery still a long way off, religious extremism and intolerance escalating, and the country's very unity looking at risk."

Malaysia's outspoken prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, said he hoped for a stable Indonesia, but added that he was not in the position to comment on the change in leadership.

"It is Indonesia's problem and we hope whatever they do brings good to Indonesia," Mahathir was quoted by the national news agency, Bernama, as saying.

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said in Bangkok that "It doesn't matter who is president but the sooner the region's politics becomes stable, the better."

In Hanoi, where ASEAN is meeting, Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs Surakiart Sathirathai said his country “welcomes the fact that the transition has been very peaceful and under the constitution and we look forward to working closely with the new Indonesian leader in the future.”

Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said that as long as the leadership change was done in accordance with Indonesia’s constitution, they recognized whatever government the Indonesian people chose.

“I think you look at Indonesia now, the process of democracy, there is no law and order problem so they have handled the situation very well,” he said.

Secretary General of ASEAN Rodolfo Severino told CNN the foreign ministers received a first-hand briefing by an Indonesian delegation on Monday. He too recognized the change in power.

“I think it is a reality this change you know the Supreme Court has spoken, the Parliament has spoken, the MPR, and then we have to accept this,” he said.

“ASEAN welcomes any move toward greater stability particularly in Indonesia, which is our largest member.”

Not all of ASEAN 10 members were as forthcoming, Philippines Vice President Teofisto T. Guingona said the matter was an internal affair and said the situation was still fluid.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.