U.S. government awaits Megawati's visit<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The United States government has invited
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri to go ahead with her planned
\nvisit at the invitation of President George W. Bush.<\/p>\n
In a release made available to The Jakarta Post on Thursday,
\nthe U.S. Embassy reaffirmed that the visit would go ahead as
\nscheduled.<\/p>\n
\"Following close consultation between the Indonesian and
\nAmerican governments, we are pleased to reaffirm that the visit
\nof President Megawati will take place as planned, including her
\nSept. 19 meeting with President George W. Bush,\" the embassy
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
However, the Indonesian government has yet to formally respond
\nto the statement.<\/p>\n
It is also not clear whether the President will continue on to
\nJapan as originally planned. However, a source told the Post that
\nthe visit would go ahead.<\/p>\n
An official at the foreign ministry told the Post that foreign
\nminister Hassan Wirayuda had received formal notification on
\nMegawati's trip from U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Robert Gelbard
\non Thursday evening.<\/p>\n
\"But the formal announcement on the government's response to
\nthe U.S. statement will be given after the Cabinet meeting on
\nFriday,\" the official said.<\/p>\n
Megawati was scheduled to leave for the U.S. on Sept. 17 and
\nfor Japan on Sept. 26, but the plan was put on hold when
\nterrorist attacks occurred in New York and Washington on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has suspended a
\nplanned one-week trip through Southeast Asia in order to deal
\nwith the tragedy in the United States, the foreign ministry said
\non Thursday as quoted by Associated Press.<\/p>\n
Koizumi was scheduled to visit Indonesia as part of his
\nSoutheast Asia tour on Sept. 16, the first visit to Southeast
\nAsia since he took office in April.<\/p>\n
A ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said
\nKoizumi had to deal with the attacks in the United States,
\nincluding ascertaining the whereabouts of 22 missing Japanese.<\/p>\n
However, State Secretary\/Cabinet Secretary Bambang Kesowo said
\nthat the government had yet to receive official notification of
\nKoizumi's cancellation.<\/p>\n
\"I have only received informal notification from the minister
\nof foreign affairs. We have yet to receive official
\nnotification,\" Bambang said.<\/p>\n
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad also canceled a
\nplanned trip to Europe following the attacks in the U.S.<\/p>\n
Earlier, foreign minister Hassan Wirayuda said the government
\nwould wait for confirmation within the next two days concerning
\nMegawati's trip.<\/p>\n
He further revealed that Eric Samadikun Hartono was the only
\nconfirmed Indonesian fatality of the terrorist attack, saying
\nother Indonesians working at the World Trade Center were
\nreportedly safe.<\/p>\n
Hassan also reiterated Indonesia's commitment to fighting
\ncross-border terrorism, and that the country was willing to share
\ninformation on terrorism activities and in improving intelligence
\nabilities in dealing with the issue. (dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-government-awaits-megawatis-visit-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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