Edith M. Lederer, New York – Indonesia's president offered Tuesday to cooperate with the United States in fighting terrorism and warned that terrorists are making a "big mistake" if they think they can destroy America.

"The big challenge that you are facing now will bring out the best in the city of New York and the best in America," President Megawati Sukarnoputri said. She told the audience from the American Indonesian Chamber of Commerce news that she had looked forward to meeting them "in what is still the financial capital of the world," prompting the business leaders to burst into applause.

Megawati then recalled that Thomas Jefferson once said that the tree of democracy will grow stronger if it is watered with the blood of its martyrs. "The victims of the terrorist attacks are such martyrs. Because of the sacrifice of their lives, the tree of democracy will grow stronger," she said, again to loud applause.

The Indonesian leader described the attack on New York's World Trade Center as "the worst atrocity ever inflicted in the history of civilization." The Indonesian leader said she told President Bush last Wednesday that "we mourn with America, that we share your grief and outrage, that an attack on the World Trade Center is not only an attack on the city of New York but an attack on the world."

"Indonesia is ready to cooperate with the United States and other civilized countries in the fight against terrorism," said Megawati, leader of the world's largest Muslim nation. She did not say what kind of help Indonesia was ready to provide – or what Bush had asked for.

But the strong backing of her nation of 210 million Muslims will be significant in helping the US administration build an international coalition by demonstrating that Washington's support is not limited to Western countries.

Before the terrorist attacks, the Indonesian president had planned to use her US trip to promote political support and investment as her two-month-old administration attempts to revive the economy and build democratic institutions. "I should like to say to you today: Indonesia is open for business," she said.