Habibie to attend APEC summit in KL

WASHINGTON (Agencies): President B.J. Habibie, who recently canceled a planned visit to Malaysia later this month, is to attend the APEC summit there in November, the Indonesian Ambassador to the United States said on Thursday.

"The President... is going to go to KL (Kuala Lumpur)," Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti told a news conference held with finance minister Bambang Subianto ahead of the closing ceremony of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank meeting here.

The ambassador was quoted by AFP as saying Habibie may have to travel back to Jakarta during the APEC meeting, which is scheduled for Nov. 16 to Nov. 18, because Indonesia has yet to appoint a new vice president.

"But he will be there for two days of the APEC leaders meeting. That is my understanding," the ambassador said.

He declined to comment on the issue of the detention of former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim in Malaysia, saying only: "We are so busy with our own political problems."

Anwar is a friend of Habibie.

Habibie recently canceled a working visit to Malaysia planned for later this month. The visit was to have been his first overseas trip since assuming the presidency on May 21.

On Saturday, Habibie, in an interview with The Nation, a Bangkok-based daily, said that he was saddened by the arrest and alleged beating of his "friend" Anwar.

The daily quoted Habibie as saying he was unsure if he would attend the APEC summit in Malaysia and that he would have to consult the legislature on the matter.

Meanwhile, Antara reported that the Malaysian government has expressed hope that President Habibie will attend the APEC summit.

"We do hope President Habibie attends the meeting," Malaysian foreign minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said during a press conference in Jakarta on Friday, adding that the final decision obviously lay with the President.

Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas said in Jakarta on Thursday that a decision had yet to be taken on whether President Habibie would attend the annual summit.

"There is still much time to arrive at a decision," he said.

Malaysia has refused to move the APEC summit venue, saying it was approved by APEC member states during last year's summit in Canada.

Malaysia's minister for international trade and industry, Rafidah Aziz, issued a reminder that other countries should not interfere in Malaysia's internal affairs and said that security would be guaranteed for the duration of the summit.

The 18-member grouping, which is to be expanded to 21 during the upcoming summit, have no need to worry about their safety, she said.

Rafidah was commenting on recent suggestions made by senior officials in the United States, Australia and Canada that the summit should be moved to a new venue in view of the political turmoil in Malaysia.

Good relations

Meanwhile, Badawi said that Indonesia and Malaysia continue to enjoy good relations.

Malaysia has no intention of ruining its relationship with Indonesia, he said, adding that both countries were among the founders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"Cooperation between the two countries has always had a positive impact. My relationship with my Indonesian counterpart, Ali Alatas, is good," he said.

Alatas echoed these sentiments in Jakarta, saying that relations between the neighboring countries have remained stable and not been effected by Malaysia's political affairs.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum groups Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, China, Chile, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and the United States.

Russia, Peru and Vietnam are set to join this year.