Mega conducts final checks on summit preparations<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri cast her eye over
\npreparations for the ninth Association of Southeast Asian Nations
\n(ASEAN) Summit here on Friday to ensure the huge event runs as
\nplanned.<\/p>\n
Arriving from Jakarta on a special presidential flight,
\nMegawati went straight to a small meeting in the VIP room of the
\nNgurah Rai airport to hear the final report from Minister of
\nForeign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda, Indonesian Military (TNI) chief
\nGen. Endriartono Sutarto and State Secretary Bambang Kesowo.<\/p>\n
After the meeting, the President inspected the preparations at
\nthe Tampak Siring Presidential Palace, the venue for next
\nTuesday's state dinner for heads of ASEAN and dialog partner
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
The Palace, built by Megawati's father, founding president
\nSukarno, has been fully renovated for the event and also to host
\na possible four-hour visit by United States President George W.
\nBush on Oct. 22.<\/p>\n
Megawati was carefully looking into preparations at the venue,
\nespecially regarding security measures, food to be served and
\ndecorations for the room.<\/p>\n
The President also inspected the general rehearsal of the
\nopening of the summit on Tuesday at the Bali International
\nConvention Center (BICC).<\/p>\n
Indonesia hosted ASEAN's first informal Summit in Jakarta in
\n1997. ASEAN leaders last year warmly welcomed the President's
\nplan to host the summit in Bali, as a demonstration of their
\nsupport for Indonesia after the terrorist attacks on Oct. 12 last
\nyear, which claimed more than 200 lives.<\/p>\n
On the sidelines of the Summit, Megawati will hold bilateral
\ntalks with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, Indian Prime
\nMinister Atal Beehari Vajpayee, Myanmar Prime Minister Gen. Khin
\nNyut and Brunei Darussalam Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.<\/p>\n
The Bali summit will be the first overseas trip for Jiabao
\nsince he was elected Prime Minister late last year.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Megawati will also host a grand farewell dinner for
\nMalaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who recently announced
\nhe will retire.<\/p>\n
The President will stay on the resort island until Oct. 11 as
\nshe also plans to take the opportunity to have a family vacation,
\nincluding with her five grandchildren.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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