German FM to visit Aceh

INDONESIA: German Minister of Foreign Affairs Joschka Fisher will visit Indonesia's tsunami-damaged northern province of Aceh on Friday, the German Embassy in Jakarta said in a statement.

During his stay in Aceh, Minister Fisher, who is also Germany's Vice Chancellor, will meet Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Alwi Shihab to discuss German assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Aceh.

"Minister Fischer and his delegation will, inter alia, visit General Hospital Zainoel Abidin, where, for example, also the German Mobile Army Surgical Hospital is active," the statement, which was sent to The Jakarta Post on Tuesday, said.

Before leaving Aceh, Fischer will meet German relief personnel at the camp run by the German Federal Agency for Technical Relief.

The German government and the public have pledged a total of US$1.17 billion in aid to the tsunami-affected countries. -- JP