Megawati's 1st day at the palace<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The country's fifth president, Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri, received an official visit from the United States
\nAmbassador Robert S. Gelbard at the State Palace on Monday (photo
\nabove), marking her first working day in the palace.<\/p>\n
Gelbard was among the first guests Megawati received on her
\nfirst day at the palace after she was appointed president by the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly on July 23 following the dismissal
\nof Abdurrahman Wahid.<\/p>\n
On his visit, Gelbard reiterated the U.S. government's support
\nfor the newly appointed president and democratization of the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
Megawati had a busy first day at the palace, the place where
\nshe grew up as the daughter of founding president Sukarno,
\nreceiving at least six guests.<\/p>\n
Among her other guests on Monday were caretaker State
\nSecretary Mahtouf Basyuni, State Logistics Agency chief
\nWidjanarko Puspoyo and Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency
\nchairman I Gede Putu Ary Suta.<\/p>\n
She also held meetings with executives of the Indonesian
\nBridge Association, led by former Indonesian Military chief Gen.
\n(ret) Wiranto, and Justice and Unity Party chairman Eddy
\nSudrajat.<\/p>\n
Arriving at the palace at about 10 a.m., Megawati, wearing a
\nlight yellow suit, looked content and smiled at the journalists,
\nwho were trying to take pictures of her entering the palace door.<\/p>\n
Megawati is using one of the rooms at the State Palace as her
\ntemporary office as the Bina Graha presidential office is too
\nclose to the heavy traffic outside.<\/p>\n
Former presidents Soeharto, B.J. Habibie and Abdurrahman Wahid
\nworked in the Bina Graha.<\/p>\n
Megawati will use the museum building inside the palace
\ncomplex as her office. The building is currently being renovated.<\/p>\n
Megawati ended her first working day at the palace at 1:30
\np.m. when she left for her official residence on Jl. Teuku Umar,
\nCentral Jakarta. (dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawatis-1st-day-at-the-palace-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}