German representative to hold talks with Indonesia

German representative to hold talks with Indonesia

BONN (Reuters): The German foreign ministry said yesterday that it was sending a representative to Jakarta for talks with President B.J. Habibie on the country's political and economic situation and its planned reforms.

"The central theme of the talks will be the current internal political and economic situation in Indonesia and the state of reforms introduced by President Habibie," the ministry said in a statement.

Werner Hoyer, state secretary in the foreign ministry, was due to leave yesterday for two days of meetings and will be the first member of the German government to visit Indonesia since president Soeharto stepped down and Habibie was sworn in as President.

Soeharto stood down in May during the country's worst economic and political crisis in decades and after riots in the capital had killed more than 1,000 people.

Hoyer will also meet Indonesia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry, and other members of the government and opposition parties during his visit.

"We encourage our Indonesian friends to continue with their determined course of reform," Hoyer said.

"A part of this is also to continue with the necessary economic reforms and with the reforms organized by the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and redevelopment measures consistent with these," he added.