By ANTARA News,
Jakarta : Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) international relations observer Dewi Fortuna Anwar said Barrack Obama’s election as US president showed that the US has abandoned racism.
“We are also glad that the American people have discarded racism ,” Dewi said here Wednesday.
She said the election of Barrack Obama also indicated the American people were for international dialog and cooperation.
Obama was declared the winner of the US presidential election after he had gained 297 electoral votes against John McCain’s support from 145 electoral votes.
Obama’s victory was warmly welcomed by many world leaders, including President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
In a statement at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Yudhoyono congratulated Obama who had spent some of his childhood in Indonesia.
“On this good occasion, I would like to congratulate Senator Barrack Obama on his successful bid for the US presidency for the next term and the American people who have used their political rhigt in a successful presidential election,” the President said.
Yudhoyono hoped that with Obama as US president, Indonesia-US relations can become more contructive and create more justice and benefits for every body.
He also said with Obama’s election, Indonesia-US relations could enter a new era.
Meanwhile, John McCain Obama’s rival, congratulated Obama on his win on Tuesday (Nov 4), and said “The US people have spoken.”
The 72-year-old senator from Arizona said he would help Obama in dealing with several US challenges.
“It is a common thing to feel some disappointment but tomorow we must step forward together,” McCain said. He also praised his running mate, Sarah Palin, as a new important voice in the Republican Party.