REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono received visiting US Senators John McCain and Sheldon Whitehouse at his office on Tuesday and discussed the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) issue, among several other things.

"We have also talked about ISIS, and as one of the countries with a Muslim majority population we hope it will remain peaceful and moderate to become a role model of an open society. We believe in the leadership of President Yudhoyono," John McCain stated at a press conference after the meeting.

The senator from the Republican Party remarked that Indonesia can play an important role in preventing the propagation of the ISIS or IS (Islamic State) ideology.

"I have seen it as a threat to the US and a serious problem for other countries as well," he stressed.

John McCain noted that several young men from the US, Europe, and also Indonesia had gone to Syria, and they would later return influenced by a radical ideology and they posed threat. 

"ISIS fighters have captured large areas in Syria, and it has become a strong terrorist organization and has a lot of military hardware," he stated.

McCain said he believed all countries shared the same viewpoint with regard to the ISIS threat and could  contribute to prevent its propagation.

"I believe all countries can do something to respond to the radical movement," he emphasized.

During the meeting, President Yudhoyono was flanked by Minister of Foreign Affairs Marty Natalegawa and his deputy Dino Pati Djalal who was also the former ambassador to the US, coordinating minister for political, security and legal affairs, and other officials. On Monday, the US senators met the leadership of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). The meeting was held behind closed doors and lasted for around an hour.

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