Soeharto back at work, in good spirits<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto was back to business with
\n\"good spirit\", his close aides said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas told journalists after
\na morning session with the President that \"he (Soeharto) was
\nobviously in good spirits and in good health\".<\/p>\n
Alatas was the first minister the president received to
\ndiscuss state affairs after returning from a much-publicized
\nmedical checkup in Germany on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Alatas said he had briefed the President on the upcoming week
\nof Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ministerial
\nlevel meetings, due to begin at the end of the week.<\/p>\n
\"We had a long meeting where I had the opportunity to give a
\nfull briefing to the President on the series of meetings with
\nregards to ASEAN,\" he said of the meeting at the presidential
\nresidence on Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Amid speculation on his health, Soeharto left for Germany on
\nJuly 7 accompanied by his children for a three-day health
\nexamination in the town of Bad Oeynhausen, Germany.<\/p>\n
The rumors caused a frenzied trend in the nation's financial
\nmarket, as speculation about his health was rife.<\/p>\n
However, results of the checkup proved Soeharto was in
\nexcellent condition, and doctors revealed that the President only
\nneeded to diet to reduce his weight.<\/p>\n
Though he has yet to attend any state functions at the State
\nPalace, yesterday's hour-long meeting with Alatas was the first
\nofficial business the President has attended.<\/p>\n
Based on Alatas' account, the President showed no indications
\nof decline from age. In fact, he seemed very interested in
\ndiscussing the many engagements he has in the coming year.<\/p>\n
\"He was in a good mood,\" Alatas remarked.<\/p>\n
Soeharto is scheduled to open the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on
\nSaturday. He is scheduled to meet next week with 13 foreign
\nministers participating in the ASEAN Regional Forum.<\/p>\n
Among the international engagements that were discussed during
\nthe meeting with Alatas is the planned visit to Manila in
\nNovember for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and the
\ninformal ASEAN summit, which Soeharto will be hosting here in
\nDecember.<\/p>\n
\"He was obviously eager to get back to his usual programs and
\nwas also asking about other programs that were in store for him
\nduring the year,\" Alatas said.<\/p>\n
Among the other invitations discussed was the United Nations'
\nFood and Agriculture Organization meeting later this year, and
\nthe Group of 15 summit next year in Malaysia.<\/p>\n
\"He is certainly going to Rome for the FAO summit meeting. And
\nthere is the ASEAN informal summit in December,\" he said. He
\nadded, however, that Soeharto's attendance at the G-15 meeting
\nhad yet to be decided.<\/p>\n
Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono separately also told
\njournalists of Soeharto's excellent health.<\/p>\n
He noted that Soeharto has also decided to attend a ceremony
\nin East Nusa Tenggara which had been delegated to Vice President
\nTry Sutrisno because he felt in good shape. (mds)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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