Mega seeks cordial ties with the media

Mega seeks cordial ties with the media

JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri hosted a luncheon
for senior editors from several media on Friday, with an eye
toward building more amicable relations with the press.

State Minister for Communications and Information Syamsul
Muarif, who also attended the luncheon, said the government would
like the media to understand the government's stand on certain
security issues such as Aceh, Papua and the Iraq war.

"There was no special message from the President. This
(luncheon) is simply to establish more cordial relations with the
media," Syamsul said after the luncheon.

Megawati has often been criticized for keeping her distance
from the media, rarely speaking with journalists, even those
posted at the presidential palace.

Almost two years after assuming the presidency in July 2001,
Megawati had only addressed the press several times to explain
her government's policies. --JP