German President Arrives at Merdeka Palace with Mounted Escort

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrived at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Monday, escorted by the Presidential Security Detail’s (Paspampres) mounted troops to begin a series of state visits in Indonesia. Based on an official broadcast from the Presidential Secretariat monitored in Jakarta, the Paspampres mounted troop contingent began escorting President Steinmeier’s vehicle as it entered the National Monument (Monas) area en route to Merdeka Palace. President Steinmeier and German First Lady Elke Büdenbender arrived at the Indonesian Air Force’s Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base at around 09.00 Western Indonesia Time for a one-day working visit to Indonesia. Upon entering the Monas area, the mounted troop formation took up positions escorting President Steinmeier’s vehicle past the Monas crossroads towards the Merdeka Palace gate. The presidential motorcade then exited through the Northwest Monas Gate or the Palace Gate before entering the Merdeka Palace complex. The visit to Jakarta is part of President Steinmeier’s tour of Asia. During the visit, he is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with President Prabowo Subianto. The meeting between the two heads of state will, among other things, discuss strengthening Indonesia-Germany economic cooperation and expanding skilled labour exchange programmes between the two countries.