Gus Dur to go ahead with Australian visit on Sunday

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid will go ahead with his visit to Australia and two other countries this week, Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab announced on Monday.

Speaking to journalists after the induction of five new Indonesian ambassadors at the State Palace, Alwi contended it was impossible to cancel the trip, as the President had repeatedly postponed his visit to Australia.

"The President can no longer postpone his trip to Australia on June 24, because he rescheduled his planned visit there five times in the past," the minister said.

Australia was among the first countries Abdurrahman planned to travel to when he became president in October 1999.

However, domestic opposition to the trip, particularly from legislators, forced him to postpone his previously scheduled visits. The last cancellation was in early April.

Last week, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said he welcomed Abdurrahman's plan to visit despite the political uncertainty he faced at home.

He praised the planned trip as proof of Abdurrahman's genuine intent to bolster ties between Jakarta and Canberra.

Ties between the two countries were jarred in late 1999 following the events which transpired in the former Indonesian province of East Timor.

Alwi said on Monday that during the trip to Australia, the President would discuss a general array of economic issues.

"There are several things which need to be followed up," Alwi said.

Meanwhile, Wahyu Muryadi, presidential protocol bureau chief, said the President would only bring a small entourage with him to Australia because of budget limitations.

He said the President would stay a few days in Canberra and several other cities in Australia before flying to Christchurch in New Zealand, where he was scheduled to stay for one night.

"On the way back to Jakarta, the President will make a brief stopover in Manila on June 30," Wahyu told The Jakarta Post. (prb)