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For the assistance and support of the people while I led the nation and state of Indonesia, I express my thanks and I seek forgiveness if there was any mistakes and shortcomings. May the Indonesian nation remain victorious with Pancasila and the 1945 constitution.

— Suharto Text of Suharto's Resignation Speech (1998)

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However, the Indonesian people believe that the means for defence, which are decisive and at the same time advantageous, are the conviction in its own national identity and the standard of prosperity of its people.

National independence and the peoples' sovereignty are basic principles to which we fully adhere. We maintain and at the same time apply these principles in our attitude towards other nations in the world.

To the Indonesian people, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity are very important principles; they do not only constitute our rights and honour, but they also serve as one of the important instruments for nation building in its broadest sense.

In this world, that still contains greed to influence other nations' internal affairs which in some instances were conducted by force of arms we also realize the necessity of a physical defence capable of protecting the Indonesian nation and our country's integrity.

I get the impression that an exchange of visits between leaders of nations is extremely useful for strengthening the bonds of friendship, because mutual visits bring mutual understanding. It is mutual understanding and mutual esteem that are absolute requisites for the realisation of everlasting peace in the world.

Speech transcript at state dinner (1968)

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Suharto (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.