Abdurrahman's Australian visit to begin on Monday<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid is scheduled to
\narrive on Monday morning in Canberra for a state visit during
\nwhich he will meet with Australian Prime Minister John Howard and
\nother key Australian figures, Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi
\nShihab disclosed on Friday.<\/p>\n
The official visit would strongly enhance the bilateral ties
\nbetween the two neighboring countries and, from the domestic
\nperspective, the trip would also be political advantageous for
\nthe President, said the minister.<\/p>\n
\"From his (Abdurrahman's) perspective, this visit will enhance
\nhis position because he is confident nothing untoward will happen
\nin the country while he is on a mission abroad to improve
\nbilateral relations with Australia,\" Alwi said during a media
\nbriefing held at his office.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur, as the President is familiarly known, is facing
\npossible impeachment when the People's Consultative Assembly
\nconvenes in August to call him to account.<\/p>\n
Alwi said the visit would also benefit Indonesia in the long
\nrun, especially after the difficulties that plagued their
\nrelations in the past when East Timor was still under Indonesian
\nrule.<\/p>\n
Apart from the substantive reasons, Abdurrahman, who will
\nbecome the first Indonesian president to visit Australia in 26
\nyears, could no longer delay the visit because he had previously
\ncanceled the visit on five different occasions.<\/p>\n
\"We are visiting not just the Australian government but also
\nthe Australian people. We want to show them that Indonesian
\npeople keep their promises even in a case where the President is
\nfacing a great deal of domestic problems. This trip will enhance
\nbilateral relations between Australia and Indonesia,\" Alwi
\ncontended.<\/p>\n
Traveling on the Air Force's Boeing 707, the President will
\nland at an Australian Air Force base in Canberra on Monday
\nmorning. Governor General Sir William Deanne and foreign minister
\nAlexander Downer are scheduled to welcome him at the airport.<\/p>\n
The President will then hold 45 minutes of bilateral talks
\nwith Prime Minister John Howard. After that he will receive
\nopposition leader Kim Beazley and Australian business leaders.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Abdurrahman will fly to Sydney to meet with the
\nbusiness community. On Wednesday, he will fly to Christchurch in
\nNew Zealand for a two day visit to that country.<\/p>\n
He is to fly back to Darwin in Australia before continuing his
\ntrip to Manila on Friday to meet with new Philippines President
\nGloria Macapagal Arroyo.<\/p>\n
According to Wahyu Muryadi, chief of the Presidential Protocol
\nBureau, the President and his entourage, including First Lady
\nSinta Nuriyah will arrive back in Jakarta on Friday evening.<\/p>\n
Alwi also revealed the outcome of his recent visit to Libya at
\nthe invitation of Libyan President Moammar Qaddafi to observe
\npeace negotiations between Moro Muslim rebels and the Philippines
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, the Libyan leader assured Alwi that he
\nfully supported the territorial integrity of Indonesia and would
\nnever assist any separatist movements in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
According to Alwi, Indonesia plans to open an embassy in
\nTripoli this year. Indonesia and Libya agreed to open diplomatic
\nties in October 1991.<\/p>\n
\"The embassy is expected to be opened this year,\" said Alwi.
\n(dja\/prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/abdurrahmans-australian-visit-to-begin-on-monday-1447893297",
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