Parvanov reaches out for Buddha in C. Java<\/p>\n
Syaiful Amin, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov and his wife Sorka Petrova
\nParvanova visited the Prambanan and Borobudur temples on Sunday,
\none day before ending their four-day visit to Indonesia aimed at
\nenhancing diplomatic ties.<\/p>\n
The Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta was closed to the
\npublic before Parvanov arrived there for around a 45-minute trip.<\/p>\n
Public visitors were also barred from entering the Borobudur
\nTemple in neighboring Magelang regency, Central Java, when the
\nBulgarian president, his wife and their entourage were visiting.<\/p>\n
Security forces provided tight guard during the visit.<\/p>\n
At Borobudur, Parvanov tried to touch the famed Kunto Bimo
\nBuddha, which, it is believed will bring good luck if someone can
\nreach through the lattice work that the stupa is made from to
\ntouch Buddha's hands. It was not clear if he succeeded or not in
\nhis attempt.<\/p>\n
Parvanov landed at Adi Sumarmo Airport, Surakarta, Central
\nJava, at around 11:15 a.m., and was welcomed by Central Java
\nGovernor Mardiyanto and Magelang Regent Hasyim Affandi.<\/p>\n
Accompanied by Minister of Information and Communications
\nSyamsul Mu'arif, the Bulgarian president headed to the Prambanan
\nTemple and was taken around for less than an hour.<\/p>\n
The 60-member entourage then went to the Buddhist Borobudur
\nTemple, where they had lunch before entering the complex.<\/p>\n
The four-day visit was aimed at enhancing bilateral relations
\nbetween Indonesia and Bulgaria, which were established in 1957.<\/p>\n
It was the first ever visit by a Bulgarian president. Founding
\nIndonesian president Sukarno made a visit to Bulgaria in 1960.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, Parvanov and President Megawati Soekarnoputri,
\nSukarno's daughter, agreed to join hands in the global fight
\nagainst terrorism, with a common understanding on the importance
\nof preventive measures.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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