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)