Habibie, Estrada express concern over Malaysia
Habibie, Estrada express concern over Malaysia
BATAM, Riau (JP): President B.J. Habibie met his Philippines'
counterpart Joseph Estrada here on Tuesday and both expressed
mutual concern over the domestic situation in Malaysia.
The two leaders also expressed their hope that Malaysia would
be able to quickly overcome the present condition there.
"During the private meeting between the two heads of state,
the situation in Malaysia was briefly touched upon and the two
presidents reiterated their concern about what is happening
there," Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas said in a joint
media conference with his Philippines' counterpart Domingo Siazon
following the summit.
Alatas added quickly the two presidents talked in a private
capacity and that there was no intention of interfering in the
internal affairs of other sovereign countries.
He did not name Malaysia's dismissed finance and deputy prime
minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is a good friend of both Habibie and
Estrada.
Asked if the two presidents offered any solutions to diffuse
the situation in Kuala Lumpur, Alatas said: "I don't think we
should give recipes to other sovereign governments. We do not do
that in ASEAN."
Habibie had earlier expressed his sadness over the arrest and
beating of Anwar. Estrada had at one point threatened to boycott
next month's APEC summit in Kuala Lumpur, a statement he
retracted on Monday after a meeting with Singapore Prime Minister
Goh Chok Tong.
"We think APEC is important but we have a practical problem
relating to our present condition with only a President and no
vice president at a time when Indonesia is facing severe
difficulties," Alatas said.
The first informal summit between the two presidents was
delayed for two hours after the Super Puma helicopter provided by
the Indonesian Air Force to transport Estrada was unable to take
off from Singapore due to engine trouble.
Reliable sources said the perspiring Estrada refused
Indonesian officials' offer of another helicopter, instead
preferring to take the ferry.
Estrada, who arrived in Singapore for a four-day visit on
Sunday, made the side trip to Batam -- about an hour's journey
away by ferry -- at the invitation of Habibie.
Estrada arrived at the Melia Panorama Hotel at 7:10 p.m. and
had a 20-minute private talk with Habibie before joining a 50-
minute plenary session with their respective ministers.
President Habibie apologized to President Estrada for the
inconvenience caused by the helicopter's troubles. Accompanied by
his wife Hasri Ainun Besari, Habibie flew back to Jakarta late
last night on a Garuda Boeing 737-400 flight.
Estrada was ferried back to Singapore. (prb)