10 head of states to attend G-15 summit here in late May

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab said on Thursday that at least 10 heads of state had confirmed their attendance at the G-15 summit, scheduled to be held here in late May.

Alwi did not say, however, who they were.

"There will be more than 10 (heads of state) and this has passed the quorum, so we can relax a bit now," Alwi told reporters after attending a Cabinet meeting at Bina Graha presidential office.

Alwi said that during the meeting, he reported to President Abdurrahman Wahid the preparations made for the summit.

He added that the summit's main agenda would be "how to strengthen cooperation in the development of information technology" between member countries.

The G-15 consists of Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

The G-15, whose ranks have swelled to 19 with the inclusion of Colombia and Iran, has largely remained rhetorical in its criticism of the West and globalization.

During last year's summit in Cairo, G-15 leaders blasted the West for shackling them with unjust trade terms and crushing debts, with Jamaica's prime minister accusing the rich of consigning them to the "graveyard of penury".

Alwi's statement came as the government announced earlier this month that it was canceling plans to import luxury cars for the summit.

Following widespread criticism, officials said that instead of importing luxury cars, the government would borrow official cars of high state functionaries, including ministers and lawmakers.

Reports that Abdurrahman had issued a permit for specific car importers to import 400 luxury cars at reduced import duties last month caused a furor, with critics saying such spending was unwarranted amid the country's current economic crisis.

Officials later said that the number of luxury cars to be imported would be reduced to 50, and later to between 10 and 20. (byg)