Border meeting to be held

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: The Indonesia-Papua New Guinea border liaison meeting is scheduled to take place in Biak regency here from July 21 to July 24, Antara reported yesterday.

The Irian Jaya administration's official in charge of border affairs, F.X. Suryanto Sri Wardoyo, said the Biak meeting aimed to discuss social, economic and trade issues, as well as border issues.

Wardoyo said the Irian Jaya administration and the Papua New Guinea government had agreed to use the new Jayapura-Vanimo international highway.

They also agreed to increase flights from Merauke in Irian Jaya to Daru in Papua New Guinea from once to twice a week.

Sixty officials from both sides will attend the meeting.

Meanwhile, in the North Sumatran capital of Medan, it has been announced that the 25th anniversary of the General Border Committee (GBC) will be celebrated in Parapat on July 23 and July 24.

High-ranking Indonesian and Malaysian officials will attend the celebrations.

At least 96 Indonesian officials and 70 Malaysian officials are expected to attend.

Indonesian officials scheduled to attend are the chairmen of GBC Vice President Try Sutrisno, Gen. (ret) Maraden Panggabean, Gen. (ret) Mohamad Yusuf, Gen. (ret) L.B. Moerdani, and Gen. (ret) Edi Sudradjat.

Malaysian officials will include Tan Sri Dato Mohamad Ghazali, Tan Sri Dato Musa Hitam, Tan Sri Dato Sri Achmad Ritauddin, Dato Haji Abdul Achmad Badawi, and Dato Muhammad Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak. (swe)