Dutch premier Ruud Lubbers slated to begin visit today
Dutch premier Ruud Lubbers slated to begin visit today
JAKARTA (JP): Dutch Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers is scheduled
to arrive here today for a four day state visit at the invitation
of President Soeharto, marking the first high-level encounter in
Jakarta since Indonesia unilaterally ended all Dutch aid in 1992.
During his stay here, Lubbers, who is accompanied by Foreign
Minister P.H. Kooijmans, will discuss with Soeharto the
improvement and expansion of bilateral relations between the two
countries, officials in Jakarta say.
Lubbers is also scheduled to make a courtesy call on Vice-
President Try Sutrisno, Speaker of the House of Representatives
Wahono and other cabinet ministers.
This will be Lubbers' second trip as prime minister to
Indonesia after previously visiting the country in 1988. It could
also mark his last in his capacity as he is expected to
relinquish the post at the end of his term next month.
Relations between the two governments were severely marred
when on March 25, 1992, the Indonesian government ceased all
Dutch development aid on the grounds that The Hague was using its
assistance to meddle in Indonesia's domestic affairs.
The cessation of Dutch aid also meant the formation of a new
developmental aid foundation called the Consultative Group on
Indonesia (CGI) replacing the Inter Governmental Group on
Indonesia (IGGI) which was presided by the Netherlands.
The Paris based CGI, incorporates all the IGGI member
countries except for Holland.
Tomorrow, Lubbers will attend a luncheon hosted by the
Indonesia-Netherlands Association followed by a dinner with the
Dutch community on Wednesday evening hosted by Ambassador
J.H.R.D. Van Roijen.
Other scheduled activities while in Jakarta will be a visit to
the Hero's cemetery at Kalibata and the Dutch war hero's cemetery
at Menteng Pulo.
Included in Lubbers four-day itinerary here is a visit to
Surabaya on Wednesday to meet with East Java governor Basofi
Sudirman and the laying of the initial stone for the new
Phillips-Ralin factory.
Foreign Minister Kooijmans is expected to sign an investment
protection agreement with his counterpart Ali Alatas at the
Pancasila building in Jakarta during the visit. (07)
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