Mandela to visit Jakarta this month

JAKARTA (JP): South African President Nelson Mandela's planned state visit to Jakarta from July 14 through 16 was confirmed Thursday by an embassy official.

This will be the third visit by the Indonesian batik lover, after unofficial visits in 1990 and 1994.

"This visit aims to strengthen the two countries' relations, because my country regards Indonesia as very strategic," said Linford Andrews from the South African embassy.

The charismatic president is widely regarded as an "ambassador" for Indonesian batik because he wears long-sleeved batik shirts at important functions, including during a state visit to England last year.

"Batik is very suitable for our climate," Andrews said.

The president will visit Indonesia during his tour of member countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations. He visited the Philippines, Brunei, Singapore and Malaysia in March.

"President Mandela will be in Jakarta from July 14 to 16, and he will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo," Andrews said.

Mandela will arrive in Bali on July 12 for a private visit, before starting his official mission.

He came here in 1990 in his capacity as the Vice Chairman of African National Congress (ANC). At that time President Soeharto presented him with US$10 million in cash to finance educational programs in South Africa.

In September 1994 he visited Jakarta again, as ANC chairman despite being elected as the country's president four months earlier.

Although state officials have confirmed the visit, it has not yet been officially announced by the State Secretariat.

Andrews said, "Indonesian non-oil exports to South Africa in 1996 stood at $108 million and its imports totaled $167 million."

The two heads of government are expected to discuss Non- Aligned Movement (NAM) affairs because Pretoria will take over the chairmanship of the 113-member organization from Colombia in a summit in Pretoria in September next year.

Indonesia hosted a NAM summit in 1992.

Nelson Mandela surprised the government three years ago when he unexpectedly raised questions about human rights and East Timor in a meeting with Soeharto.

"From Jakarta he will continue his trip to Thailand," Andrews said. (06)