Abdurrahman's Australian visit to begin on Monday

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid is scheduled to arrive on Monday morning in Canberra for a state visit during which he will meet with Australian Prime Minister John Howard and other key Australian figures, Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab disclosed on Friday.

The official visit would strongly enhance the bilateral ties between the two neighboring countries and, from the domestic perspective, the trip would also be political advantageous for the President, said the minister.

"From his (Abdurrahman's) perspective, this visit will enhance his position because he is confident nothing untoward will happen in the country while he is on a mission abroad to improve bilateral relations with Australia," Alwi said during a media briefing held at his office.

Gus Dur, as the President is familiarly known, is facing possible impeachment when the People's Consultative Assembly convenes in August to call him to account.

Alwi said the visit would also benefit Indonesia in the long run, especially after the difficulties that plagued their relations in the past when East Timor was still under Indonesian rule.

Apart from the substantive reasons, Abdurrahman, who will become the first Indonesian president to visit Australia in 26 years, could no longer delay the visit because he had previously canceled the visit on five different occasions.

"We are visiting not just the Australian government but also the Australian people. We want to show them that Indonesian people keep their promises even in a case where the President is facing a great deal of domestic problems. This trip will enhance bilateral relations between Australia and Indonesia," Alwi contended.

Traveling on the Air Force's Boeing 707, the President will land at an Australian Air Force base in Canberra on Monday morning. Governor General Sir William Deanne and foreign minister Alexander Downer are scheduled to welcome him at the airport.

The President will then hold 45 minutes of bilateral talks with Prime Minister John Howard. After that he will receive opposition leader Kim Beazley and Australian business leaders.

On Tuesday, Abdurrahman will fly to Sydney to meet with the business community. On Wednesday, he will fly to Christchurch in New Zealand for a two day visit to that country.

He is to fly back to Darwin in Australia before continuing his trip to Manila on Friday to meet with new Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

According to Wahyu Muryadi, chief of the Presidential Protocol Bureau, the President and his entourage, including First Lady Sinta Nuriyah will arrive back in Jakarta on Friday evening.

Alwi also revealed the outcome of his recent visit to Libya at the invitation of Libyan President Moammar Qaddafi to observe peace negotiations between Moro Muslim rebels and the Philippines government.

During the meeting, the Libyan leader assured Alwi that he fully supported the territorial integrity of Indonesia and would never assist any separatist movements in Indonesia.

According to Alwi, Indonesia plans to open an embassy in Tripoli this year. Indonesia and Libya agreed to open diplomatic ties in October 1991.

"The embassy is expected to be opened this year," said Alwi. (dja/prb)