JP/3/visit

JP/3/visit

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.