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Parvanov reaches out for Buddha in C. Java

Syaiful Amin The Jakarta Post Yogyakarta

Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov and his wife Sorka Petrova Parvanova visited the Prambanan and Borobudur temples on Sunday, one day before ending their four-day visit to Indonesia aimed at enhancing diplomatic ties.

The Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta was closed to the public before Parvanov arrived there for around a 45-minute trip.

Public visitors were also barred from entering the Borobudur Temple in neighboring Magelang regency, Central Java, when the Bulgarian president, his wife and their entourage were visiting.

Security forces provided tight guard during the visit.

At Borobudur, Parvanov tried to touch the famed Kunto Bimo Buddha, which, it is believed will bring good luck if someone can reach through the lattice work that the stupa is made from to touch Buddha's hands. It was not clear if he succeeded or not in his attempt.

Parvanov landed at Adi Sumarmo Airport, Surakarta, Central Java, at around 11:15 a.m., and was welcomed by Central Java Governor Mardiyanto and Magelang Regent Hasyim Affandi.

Accompanied by Minister of Information and Communications Syamsul Mu'arif, the Bulgarian president headed to the Prambanan Temple and was taken around for less than an hour.

The 60-member entourage then went to the Buddhist Borobudur Temple, where they had lunch before entering the complex.

The four-day visit was aimed at enhancing bilateral relations between Indonesia and Bulgaria, which were established in 1957.

It was the first ever visit by a Bulgarian president. Founding Indonesian president Sukarno made a visit to Bulgaria in 1960.

On Saturday, Parvanov and President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Sukarno's daughter, agreed to join hands in the global fight against terrorism, with a common understanding on the importance of preventive measures.