Gus Dur to delay his visit to Australia

By Budiman Moerdijat

SEOUL (JP): Indonesian Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab said late Thursday here that President Abdurrahman Wahid would likely postpone his planned visit to Australia in November.

Speaking to journalists within the presidential entourage, Alwi said that Abdurrahman's planned visit to Australia, which has already been delayed several times, would not take place in November.

"I think that the trip which has been planned for this November will not take place," Alwi said on the sidelines of the third Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in the South Korean capital.

Alwi did not elaborate further, but said that he, Minister of Industry and Trade Luhut Panjaitan and Coordinating Minister for the Economy Rizal Ramli would visit Australia in an effort to strengthen trade ties between Jakarta and Canberra on Nov. 25 to 26.

Alwi also said that during the fasting month, which begins in late November, the President will not make any overseas trips.

The President has been sharply criticized for making too many overseas trips and putting global issues before mounting domestic problems.

Ties between Jakarta and Canberra nosedived last year after Australia led an international peacekeeping force to East Timor after the UN-organized ballot.

The House of Representatives called on Abdurrahman earlier this month to delay his visit to Australia until after Australian Prime Minister John Howard had first made a trip to Jakarta.

Alwi ruled out, however, the possibility of a Howard visit saying that Australian leaders' visits to Indonesia had been "too frequent".

Abdurrahman had said earlier this month that his visit to Australia would depend on an analysis as to "whether their (the Australians) attitude has changed or not".

"If there are no changes, we will do what has been suggested by the House," Abdurrahman said.

Meanwhile in Singapore it was reported that Abdurrahman would meet with Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew on his way back to Jakarta.

AFP quoted a Singapore foreign ministry statement as saying that the Indonesian president specifically requested Saturday's meeting.

The meeting is expected to be held at the VIP lounge at Singapore's Changi airport. (byg)