Gus Dur to delay trip to Australia

Gus Dur to delay trip to Australia

JAKARTA (JP): In observance of the Ramadhan fasting month,
beginning later this month, President Abdurrahman will delay his
visit to Australia until January, Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab
said on Tuesday.

"The fasting month of Ramadhan will begin from the end of this
month until December ... I told Gus Dur (Abdurrahman's nickname)
it would be better (to visit) in January," Alwi told journalists
at the presidential palace.

But Alwi confirmed a bilateral ministerial meeting between
Indonesia and Australia, scheduled in mid-November, was still on.

Alwi said last month that he, Minister of Trade and Industry
Luhut Binsar Panjaitan and Coordinating Minister for the Economy
Rizal Ramli would visit Australia on Nov. 25 and Nov. 26 to pave
the way for Abdurrahman's visit.

Many were surprised when Abdurrahman announced last week that
he would go ahead with his visit to Australia at the end of this
month as Alwi previously said that the President would not make
any overseas trip during the fasting period, set to begin either
on Nov. 26 or Nov. 27.

The President's planned visit to Australia has already been
delayed several times following strong opposition from the House
of Representatives and other political figures.

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

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

Abdurrahman said that during his Australia visit he would
raise several issues affecting bilateral ties, including the
independence movement in Irian Jaya. (byg)