British minister to visit RI

British minister to visit RI

JAKARTA (AFP): British Minister for International Development Issues Clare Short will make a four-day visit to Indonesia to underline London's support for democratic and economic reforms here, the British embassy said Monday.

Short will be the most senior member of the British government to visit Indonesia since President Abdurrahman Wahid took office in October 1999, the embassy statement said.

Short, who is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday, will meet with Wahid and members of the cabinet, as well as representatives from non-governmental organizations and members of the public.

Also on her agenda is a meeting with board members of the Governance Partnership -- which brings together representatives of the Indonesian government, parliament, public and international donors -- who are working on the country's governance reform agenda.

During her visit, Short will inject US$34 million to a multi- stakeholder program to promote equitable and sustainable management of Indonesia's forest.