Key points from Indonesian president's speech

By staff and wire reports

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri has delivered her first major parliamentary speech marking independence from Dutch colonial rule. A summary of the main points is listed below.

The president also set out a six-point program that will be carried out by her cabinet.

-- Do not expect quick results. "Will we be able to resolve our multi-dimensional crisis quickly and all at once? Of course not." Megawati says Indonesia is capable of resolving political differences peacefully.

-- Start work with most pressing woes, including restoring security, as well as law and order to allow people to lead normal lives.

-- Apologies were made to rebellious Aceh and Irian Jaya provinces for decades of human rights abuses, but no independence was mentioned for either province.

-- Aceh and Irian were highlighted as being an internal matter, different from East Timor, which was an "international" issue, which was allowed to break free in 1999.

-- Indonesia's institutions are weak and need strengthening to prevent conflict from thriving.

-- The country must deal with gross human rights violations by the armed forces off the battlefield and not cover them up. This is necessary in order to facilitate military reform. The military's key focus is to maintain the country's territorial integrity.

-- Some have complained that democratization has allowed chaos to flourish. A clear agenda is needed for this process. Our understanding of human rights is not deep and this is a key barometer of whether a country is modern or not.

-- As part of a long-term strategy for the country's recovery, the constitution needs amending to make it clear and comprehensive. Debate is needed on the relationship between the executive or legislature; system of general elections; relationship between Jakarta and the regions.

-- Regional autonomy measures that took effect January 1 are to stay. Most fiscal management must be transferred to these local authorities. Nevertheless, Indonesia needs a return to order in its relations between Jakarta and local authorities.

-- The fight against graft will intensify. "I have personally summoned all my immediate family members and asked them to promise not to engage in any corruption, collusion and nepotism." All cabinet members must declare their wealth.

-- Contracts are contracts and must be honored. Indonesia is also grateful for a breathing space from official and private creditors in meeting debts and other obligations.

-- There are few countries endowed with such vast natural resources.

Six-point program

A six-point program was laid out by the president and is to be enforced by her new cabinet.

-- Maintain unity and integrity of the nation.

-- Continue process of reform and democratization while maintaining respect for human rights.

-- Normalize economic and social activities.

-- Uphold law and order, restore peace to public life, as well as fight corruption, collusion and nepotism.

-- Carry out non-aligned foreign affairs policies, improve the prestige of the nation and regain international trust, including trust from multilateral donors and investors.

-- Prepare peaceful and fair general elections for the year 2004.

Reuters contributed to this report.