G-15 summit proceeds despite uncertainty

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid will put on a brave face on Wednesday as he hosts the 11th summit of the Group of 15 developing nations, while his fate is being determined by legislators just a few hundred meters away.

The historical coincidence is ominous. Many still remember that the G-15 summit in Cairo in May 1998 was the last international meeting former President Soeharto attended before he stepped down a few days later.

Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab said on Tuesday everything was ready for the summit, which would be opened by the President in the morning.

Alwi said on Tuesday that the government was not facing any problems in the preparations, including security matters, and the enthusiasm of summit participants had not been affected by the country's political drama.

"There is no obstacle at all. There are no ministers questioning the situation here. We have also provided extra security measures to prevent any possible difficulties," Alwi said, after accompanying the President at his meeting with several delegation leaders at the Hilton Hotel.

The summit will be opened at 9 a.m. at the Jakarta Convention Center, where Abdurrahman will deliver his opening speech.

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe will address the meeting on behalf of Africa. He is expected to arrive in Jakarta on Wednesday morning.

"The Zimbabwe President, who had previously canceled his visit, will arrive here tomorrow morning," Alwi said about Mugabe, who had initially put off his visit after the death of a key minister in a car crash.

Meanwhile, Asia will be represented by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the representatives of Latin America and Caribbean countries had not been decided.

The President will host a lunch for the heads of delegation at the Golden Ballroom, Hilton Hotel.

Alwi will have a separate lunch with minister-level participants at the Taman Sari Restaurant in the hotel compound.

After the lunch, the President is slated to lead a "retreat", an informal meeting of the heads of state or government, outside the formal agenda, at the same venue. That will be followed by a gala dinner hosted by the President to honor his guests.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday the President received Egyptian Prime Minister Atef Ebeid, Indian Vice President Krishan Kant, Iranian First Vice President Hassan Habibi and Algerian President of the National Popular Assembly Abdelkader Bensalah.

According to Alwi, the President is especially concerned about how to improve relations among group members.

Indonesian bilateral ties with the members are also a focus of attention in his efforts to increase Indonesian exports to the member countries.

Indonesian Minister of Industry and Trade Lt. Gen. (ret.) Luhut B. Panjaitan, said Egypt had expressed interest in importing crude palm oil (CPO) and airplanes from Indonesia.

Separately, Alwi and Venezuela Foreign Minister Luis Alfonso Davila agreed on Tuesday to establish a high-level joint commission to promote joint ventures in oil and energy and to increase bilateral trade.

"Besides trade, we are also thinking about cooperation in the energy and oil fields, and at the same time, both leaders are committed to implementing a mechanism to increase the exports and imports of both countries," Alwi said after the signing ceremony.

The G-15 was established in 1989, originally comprising 15 member countries. Another four countries joined the group, but leaders decided to preserve the G-15 name.

Its membership comprises Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

Three presidents, including Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and Nigeria's Olusegun Obasanjo, are expected to attend the summit. Three prime ministers, including Jamaica's James Patterson and Mahathir, will also be present. Meanwhile, four vice presidents will lead their delegations, including Colombia's Gustavo Bellemus.

Of the 12 heads of delegation, only four of them will bring their spouses, including Mahathir.

Due to security concerns, organizers have apparently not scheduled a customary tour of the city.

The summit will be closed on Thursday morning. Venezuela President Sanchez will officially accept the group's leadership from Abdurrahman. Venezuela will host the next annual summit. (prb)