US PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA has spoken of the need for greater links between the US and Muslim countries during a short trip to Indonesia.
Obama, who lived in Indonesia for four years as a child, said that US efforts to improve relations with the Muslim world have been earnest and sustained.
He said “we don’t expect that we are going to completely eliminate some of the misunderstandings and mistrust that have developed over a long period of time, but we do think that we’re on the right path”.
He said that US interactions with Muslim countries should be expanded “so they’re not solely focused on security issues”, saying that while security is important, he wants “to make sure we are interacting with a wide range of people on a wide range of issues”.
The president said that more people-to-people contact would be good for security, but would also help build better understanding between the US and the Muslim world.
He said that he thinks the US has reached out to Muslims on certain areas, but “we’ve got a lot more work to do”, the BBC reports.
Speaking specifically of his visit to Indonesia, Obama said he feels “great affection for the people here” because of the time he and his family spent in the country.
CNN reports that the visit to Indonesia was curtailed due to fears volcanic ash from Mount Merapi would ground Air Force One. According to a presidential schedule published by the Chicago Sun-Herald, Obama and his wife Michlle will arrive in South Korea later today.
This AP video shows Obama addressing a joint press conference with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono:
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