Soeharto begins visit in Germany<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto arrived in Hannover yesterday
\nto start a six-day state visit to Germany aimed chiefly at
\npromoting economic and trade relations between the two countries.<\/p>\n
The highlight of his visit will be to open the large Hannover
\nIndustrial Fair together with his host, Chancellor Helmut Kohl,
\ntoday.<\/p>\n
Soeharto flew in on board a Garuda Indonesia DC 10 plane to a
\nfoggy and chilly morning in Hannover yesterday, according to the
\nstate-owned television network TVRI.<\/p>\n
His entourage includes First Lady Tien Soeharto, Minister of
\nForeign Affairs Ali Alatas and Minister\/State Secretary
\nMoerdiono. State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie
\njoined them in Hannover.<\/p>\n
This year Indonesia has been chosen by the fair's organizers
\nas Germany's \"Country Partner\", an honor given to a country in
\nrecognition of its successes in economy, development and
\ntechnology.<\/p>\n
Executives from more than 100 Indonesian private and
\ngovernment-owned companies and agencies will be there to showcase
\nIndonesia's successes. The fair, participated in by more than 60
\ncountries and with more than 400,000 visitors expected, offers an
\nimportant forum for the promotion of Indonesian products not only
\nin Germany, but also Europe and other parts of the world.<\/p>\n
Soeharto will be in Germany until April 6. From Hannover, he
\nwill travel to Bonn, Dusseldorf and Dresden, a town in the former
\nEast Germany. His agenda includes a series of meetings with Kohl,
\nGermany's President Roman Herzog and other local leaders.<\/p>\n
One of the issues expected to be raised during the meeting
\nwith Kohl is Soeharto's recent visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina,
\nofficials said.<\/p>\n
Chancellor Helmut Kohl's Christian Democrats (CDU) welcomed
\nSoeharto's visit yesterday, Reuters reported.<\/p>\n
\"We place high value on cooperation with up-and-coming nations
\nin southeast Asia with their more than 300 million people,\"
\ndeputy CDU parliamentary leader Rudolf Seiters said.<\/p>\n
He pointed out Germany was Indonesia's third-biggest trading
\npartner after Japan and the United States.<\/p>\n
Seiters said Germany has to discuss respect of human rights
\nwith Indonesia, as it does with other countries, and welcomed
\nJakarta's willingness to hold talks on the issue.<\/p>\n
The President was greeted at the Hannover airport by Germany's
\nMinister of Economy, Transportation and Technology Peter Fisher
\nand the chief of the Hannover Fair organizing committee, Klaus
\nGoerhmann, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
After opening the fair on Sunday, Soeharto is scheduled to
\ninaugurate the Indonesian stand at the Congress Centrum on
\nMonday. Kohl is also expected to attend the ceremony.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian leader is also scheduled to attend a meeting of
\nthe Indonesia-Germany Economic\/Technology Cooperation Forum
\nduring his stay.<\/p>\n
At the completion of his visit in Germany, Soeharto will
\ncontinue with his overseas trip to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and
\nTurkmenistan. Officials said the objective of the visits will
\nalso be to promote trade with the former Soviet republics in
\nCentral Asia.<\/p>\n
He is scheduled to return to Indonesia on April 13. (pwn\/emb)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soeharto-begins-visit-in-germany-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }