G-15 summit set to clash with House plenary session<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government plans to intensively lobby the
\nHouse of Representatives to avoid a scheduling clash between the
\nHouse plenary session on the memorandum process and the planned
\nsummit of the G-15 which Indonesia is set to host on May 30 and
\nMay 31.<\/p>\n
\"For the sake of the national interest, we are trying to lobby
\nthe House so that these two big events do not clash,\" Ministry of
\nForeign Affairs Secretary-General Afrizal Effendy said on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
\"The matter is now being discussed by high-level officials,\"
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has committed itself to hosting the G-15 summit
\nwhich will be preceded by several days of meetings among senior
\nofficials.<\/p>\n
But the date of the summit coincides with the deadline set in
\nthe second House censure against the President, and legislators
\nare also expected to convene at that time to discuss their next
\nmoves.<\/p>\n
The crucial House plenary session will decide whether they
\nwill continue with the memorandum process and hold a People's
\nConsultative Assembly special session to appraise the president's
\nperformance.<\/p>\n
Afrizal stressed that preparations for the G-15 summit were
\ncontinuing as scheduled.<\/p>\n
He claimed that thus far none of the members countries had
\nindicated any reluctance or concerns about coming to Indonesia
\nfollowing the political developments in the country.<\/p>\n
\"All of the foreign ministers and trade ministers of the
\nmember countries have confirmed their attendance and none of them
\nhave requested any special security assurances from us,\" Afrizal
\nremarked.<\/p>\n
He further said that so far eleven heads of state had
\nconfirmed their attendance.<\/p>\n
The G-15 comprises Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Egypt,
\nIndia, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria,
\nPeru, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n
Strengthening cooperation in the development of information
\ntechnology between member countries has been set as the main
\nagenda of the upcoming summit.<\/p>\n
Since the government has canceled plans to import luxury cars
\nfor the summit, most Cabinet ministers this week have begun using
\ntheir private vehicles.<\/p>\n
The ministers' official fleet of Volvo S90 sedans has been
\nturned over to the State Secretariat to be used for the summit.<\/p>\n
Later on Wednesday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab
\ntold The Jakarta Post that the government was more than ready to
\nhost the summit and the internal political developments will not
\nhamper the meeting.<\/p>\n
\"It is still on and it will be held as scheduled,\" Alwi
\nremarked.(dja)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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