Soeharto to undergo checkup in Europe<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto will leave for Europe
\ntomorrow for a checkup, Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono
\nannounced yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"The president plans to travel to Europe on Sunday. The main
\nreason is for a medical checkup,\" Moerdiono told reporters at the
\nMerdeka Palace.<\/p>\n
He did not name the country of destination, but news agencies
\nsaid foreign diplomats suggested he was going to Germany,
\npossibly Frankfurt.<\/p>\n
Moerdiono said a number of medical experts are already in the
\nEuropean country and making the necessary preparations. The
\ncheckup is expected \"to take a few days\", he added.<\/p>\n
He denied rumors that the 75-year-old President is ailing.<\/p>\n
\"According to the team of presidential doctors, at this moment
\nthe President is medically in good condition,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"As you have seen, the President has continued with his
\nroutine state and presidential affairs,\" he said, citing the
\nmonthly cabinet meeting on the economy which the President led on
\nWednesday as an example of how fit the head of state is.<\/p>\n
\"The President followed his normal schedule today, including
\nmeeting and having his photograph taken with members of
\nIndonesia's Olympic team, and having talks with a senior official
\nof the ruling Golkar grouping, the housing minister and the head
\nof the Supreme Advisory Council,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In August 1994, Soeharto underwent a number of medical tests
\nat the Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital, where it was discovered he
\nhad kidney stones. The doctors later gave him a clean bill of
\nhealth.<\/p>\n
Asked about the importance of having a checkup abroad,
\nMoerdiono said the decision was made by the President's medical
\nteam.<\/p>\n
\"The President has a routine medical checkup every six months.
\nBecause of the need for more sophisticated equipment, the medical
\nteam suggested that he have the checkup abroad.\"<\/p>\n
Moerdiono did not explain why more sophisticated equipment was
\nnecessary.<\/p>\n
Soeharto had his last medical examination on June 29, while
\nthe decision to send him abroad for a checkup came in the last
\nfew days. \"It took a long time to conduct an effective
\nexamination on the President's health,\" Moerdiono said.<\/p>\n
No members of the cabinet will accompany the President
\nalthough a small number of state secretariat staff will be on
\nhand to help with the day-to-day administration, he said.<\/p>\n
As in his previous overseas trips, Soeharto will still serve
\nas President while undergoing the checkup, Moerdiono said.<\/p>\n
Constitutional law expert Yusril Ihza Mahendra agreed that by
\nlaw, the responsibility for state and presidential tasks while a
\npresident is abroad or hospitalized remains in the head of
\nstate's hands.<\/p>\n
\"A 1978 decree of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)
\nstipulates that the President remains responsible for state and
\npresidential duties when he is abroad or hospitalized,\" Yusril
\ntold The Jakarta Post last night.<\/p>\n
He said that the Vice President could take over the tasks upon
\nthe President's order. However, \"the authority to make decisions
\non state policies will remain in the President's hands,\" he said.<\/p>\n
From Kuala Lumpur, AFP reported yesterday that the Malaysian
\ngovernment has received notice from Jakarta that President
\nSoeharto has canceled a planned July 9 working visit.<\/p>\n
Officials from the Malaysian foreign ministry said the
\nMalaysian ambassador in Jakarta was officially informed of the
\ncancellation. \"We were officially notified today (Friday),\" a
\nMalaysian foreign official said.<\/p>\n
An Indonesian Embassy official in Kuala Lumpur said Soeharto
\nwas originally scheduled to arrive on July 9 for talks with Prime
\nMinister Mahathir Mohamad during a one-day working trip. (imn)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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