G-15 summit proceeds despite uncertainty<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid will put on a brave
\nface on Wednesday as he hosts the 11th summit of the Group of 15
\ndeveloping nations, while his fate is being determined by
\nlegislators just a few hundred meters away.<\/p>\n
The historical coincidence is ominous. Many still remember
\nthat the G-15 summit in Cairo in May 1998 was the last
\ninternational meeting former President Soeharto attended before
\nhe stepped down a few days later.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab said on
\nTuesday everything was ready for the summit, which would be
\nopened by the President in the morning.<\/p>\n
Alwi said on Tuesday that the government was not facing any
\nproblems in the preparations, including security matters, and the
\nenthusiasm of summit participants had not been affected by the
\ncountry's political drama.<\/p>\n
\"There is no obstacle at all. There are no ministers
\nquestioning the situation here. We have also provided extra
\nsecurity measures to prevent any possible difficulties,\" Alwi
\nsaid, after accompanying the President at his meeting with
\nseveral delegation leaders at the Hilton Hotel.<\/p>\n
The summit will be opened at 9 a.m. at the Jakarta Convention
\nCenter, where Abdurrahman will deliver his opening speech.<\/p>\n
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe will address the meeting on
\nbehalf of Africa. He is expected to arrive in Jakarta on
\nWednesday morning.<\/p>\n
\"The Zimbabwe President, who had previously canceled his
\nvisit, will arrive here tomorrow morning,\" Alwi said about
\nMugabe, who had initially put off his visit after the death of a
\nkey minister in a car crash.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Asia will be represented by Malaysian Prime
\nMinister Mahathir Mohamad.<\/p>\n
As of Tuesday afternoon, the representatives of Latin America
\nand Caribbean countries had not been decided.<\/p>\n
The President will host a lunch for the heads of delegation at
\nthe Golden Ballroom, Hilton Hotel.<\/p>\n
Alwi will have a separate lunch with minister-level
\nparticipants at the Taman Sari Restaurant in the hotel compound.<\/p>\n
After the lunch, the President is slated to lead a \"retreat\",
\nan informal meeting of the heads of state or government, outside
\nthe formal agenda, at the same venue. That will be followed by a
\ngala dinner hosted by the President to honor his guests.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, on Tuesday the President received Egyptian Prime
\nMinister Atef Ebeid, Indian Vice President Krishan Kant, Iranian
\nFirst Vice President Hassan Habibi and Algerian President of the
\nNational Popular Assembly Abdelkader Bensalah.<\/p>\n
According to Alwi, the President is especially concerned about
\nhow to improve relations among group members.<\/p>\n
Indonesian bilateral ties with the members are also a focus of
\nattention in his efforts to increase Indonesian exports to the
\nmember countries.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Minister of Industry and Trade Lt. Gen. (ret.)
\nLuhut B. Panjaitan, said Egypt had expressed interest in
\nimporting crude palm oil (CPO) and airplanes from Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Separately, Alwi and Venezuela Foreign Minister Luis Alfonso
\nDavila agreed on Tuesday to establish a high-level joint
\ncommission to promote joint ventures in oil and energy and to
\nincrease bilateral trade.<\/p>\n
\"Besides trade, we are also thinking about cooperation in the
\nenergy and oil fields, and at the same time, both leaders are
\ncommitted to implementing a mechanism to increase the exports and
\nimports of both countries,\" Alwi said after the signing ceremony.<\/p>\n
The G-15 was established in 1989, originally comprising 15
\nmember countries. Another four countries joined the group, but
\nleaders decided to preserve the G-15 name.<\/p>\n
Its membership comprises Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Chile,
\nColombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Kenya,
\nMalaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Venezuela
\nand Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n
Three presidents, including Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and
\nNigeria's Olusegun Obasanjo, are expected to attend the summit.
\nThree prime ministers, including Jamaica's James Patterson and
\nMahathir, will also be present. Meanwhile, four vice presidents
\nwill lead their delegations, including Colombia's Gustavo
\nBellemus.<\/p>\n
Of the 12 heads of delegation, only four of them will bring
\ntheir spouses, including Mahathir.<\/p>\n
Due to security concerns, organizers have apparently not
\nscheduled a customary tour of the city.<\/p>\n
The summit will be closed on Thursday morning. Venezuela
\nPresident Sanchez will officially accept the group's leadership
\nfrom Abdurrahman. Venezuela will host the next annual summit.
\n(prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/g-15-summit-proceeds-despite-uncertainty-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}