Keating tells Alatas to get well soon

Keating tells Alatas to get well soon

JAKARTA (JP): Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating flew to
Melbourne from Canberra yesterday to see Minister of Foreign
Affairs Ali Alatas who was recuperating after quadruple bypass
surgery, Indonesian ambassador to Australia Sabam Siagian said.

Wearing a blue suit and bluish tie, Keating dispensed with
formalities when entering the hospital room, greeting the
Indonesian minister on a first name basis, Sabam told The Jakarta
Post by phone yesterday.

"How are you Ali?" the prime minister was quoted as saying.

Keating wished Alatas a speedy recovery, reminding him that
plenty of work awaits him in Jakarta, including preparations for
the upcoming conferences of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) forum. The two men chatted for about 15 minutes, Sabam
said.

Alatas was moved from the intensive care unit to an ordinary
room at Epworth hospital yesterday morning, an indication that
his health is improving, the ambassador said.

The hospital has restricted the number of visitors permitted
to see Alatas, who needs plenty of rest, but made a special
exception for Keating yesterday, he added.

After the operation was performed on Monday, the minister was
ordered to remain in the hospital for around 10 days. Alatas has
been out of action since he suffered a mild heart attack on May
25 in Jakarta.

Keating is scheduled to travel to Jakarta later this month to
lend credence to the massive Australian trade and cultural
promotion which got underway on Tuesday. The prime minister is
also expected to attend the APEC summit in November which is
expected to be held in nearby Bogor. (emb)