Megawati set to depart for UN meeting
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
President Megawati Soekarnoputri embarks on another overseas trip on Sunday to attend the United Nations General Assembly's 58th session in New York.
Set to convey the message that the world body should be more active in solving international conflicts and explaining the country's efforts in fighting terrorism, Megawati will address the Assembly on Sept. 23.
Scheduled to be at the podium on the first day of the session, she will be at the general debate along with U.S. President George W. Bush, French President Jacques Chirac, South African President Thabo Mbeki, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
In her speech, Megawati will underscore the importance of the UN remaining true to its original purpose of keeping peace in the world and not letting any one country commandeer those efforts.
The President will also call for reform inside the UN Security Council, which is currently dominated by particular major countries and fails to mediate in international conflicts, such as in the Iraqi and Palestinian issues.
Megawati will also talk about the country's efforts to curb terrorism, especially after the Aug. 5 Marriott Hotel bombing in Jakarta.
"What Indonesia has to say on terrorism will be taken into account as we are also a victim of the crime, both in Bali and Jakarta," former minister of foreign affairs Ali Alatas said recently, referring to the Marriott bombing and the Oct. 12, 2002 Bali blasts.
"We have proven that the we are able to unravel the case and proceed with the legal proceedings to punish the perpetrators."
An analyst from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Kusnanto Anggoro, said it was necessary for Indonesia, as part of the international community, to make such a statement of intent in fighting terrorism.
Nevertheless, it does not mean that Indonesia will receive more assistance and fewer queries from the international community.
"At the end, the assurance of international assistance will depend on the seriousness on our part in dealing with terrorism," he told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.
On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, Megawati is slated to hold a bilateral meeting with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The President is also slated to address a breakfast business meeting and hold talks with the Indonesian community in New York.
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda, who are currently in the United States, are scheduled to join the presidential entourage in New York. There is no schedule for a meeting between Megawati and Bush.
On her return journey, the President will make a brief visit to Tunisia and Libya to discuss trade. She is among the first heads of state to visit Libya after the UN lifted sanctions against the country on Sept. 12 following the 1988 Lockerbie airline bombing.