Gus Dur set to make another trip in June

Gus Dur set to make another trip in June

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman is scheduled to make
another overseas trip next month, including stopping over for
medical treatment in the United States.

Without specifying the exact timetable, Minister of Foreign
Affairs Alwi Shihab announced on Wednesday that the president
would also go to Japan, France and Egypt.

According to Alwi, the president will make a brief stopover in
Tokyo to attend a seminar organized by the economic daily Nihon
Keizai Shimbun, before continuing his flight to Salt Lake City,
Utah, for treatment of his eyes.

Abdurrahman will visit the Moran Eye Center in Utah where he
was treated in November.

Doctors concluded then that Abdurrahman's right eye has only
about 20 percent of normal vision, and his left is practically
blind.

The president also has been treated on at least two occasions
since December by a team of doctors from China. He suffered two
strokes before becoming the country's fourth president in
October.

Alwi explained that during his visit to France, the president
would receive an honorary doctorate degree from Sorbonne
University.

Abdurrahman will also visit Egypt to attend the summit of the
Group of 15 developing countries (G-15) in Cairo.

The visit to Cairo will be a nostalgic journey for Abdurrahman
who studied at Al Azhar University between 1964 and 1966.

Alwi also disclosed that the President has not made any
decision about a possible trip to Australia in July, following
strong criticism from the House of Representatives.

"We are still considering the plus and minuses of a visit,"
said Alwi. (prb)