Megawati in Hawaii en route to the U.S.

Megawati in Hawaii en route to the U.S.

HONOLULU(JP): President Megawati Soekarnopuri arrived here on
Monday afternoon (7:11 a.m. on Tuesday in Jakarta) on the first
leg of her nine-day working visit to the United States.

The purpose of her visit is to help Indonesia gain economic
recovery but it is uncertain whether the agenda will stick
following the deadly terrorist attacks on New York and Washington
on Sept. 11.

The Associated Press reported that President Bush might use
the occasion to press Megawati to crack down on Muslim hard-line
groups in the country.

Earlier reports said that Osama bin Laden, the Saudi-born
prime suspect in the attacks, might find refuge in the Muslim
stronghold province of Aceh, and suggested that Bush would press
Megawati on the issue.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda, however, said
that he was convinced that all discussions on economic issues,
investment and trade between the two countries were still on the
agenda.

"We are still focusing on economic issues and all discussions
on trade, investment and other issues are still on the agenda,"
Hassan said.

The agenda has been set and Indonesia will not be dragged into
discussing terrorism if it is related to religion, he said.

Megawati is scheduled to meet President Bush on Sept. 19,
followed by meetings with International Monetary Fund (IMF)
president Horst Koehler and World Bank president James
Wolfensohn. She is also scheduled to talk with several CEOs of
American oil companies operating in Indonesia.

Her entourage includes Coordinating Minister for Political and
Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister
for the Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti, Minister of Foreign
Affairs Hassan Wirayuda and Minister of Finance Boediono. (dja)