SBY plans to visit troubled Palestine

Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono plans to visit Palestinian territories in the near future in a move aimed at supporting the struggle of the Palestinian people for independence.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Wednesday that the visit would be part of a planned visit to a number of countries in the Middle East.

"I think the planned visit is in line with our people's aspiration to concretely help the Palestinian struggle. The visit will reflect our seriousness to help them," said Hassan in a press conference.

Hassan said he had conveyed the planned visit to Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas about two weeks ago at the South Summit meeting in Doha, Qatar. Abbas said at that time that he was excited with the plan and would warmly welcome Susilo.

"President Abbas said President Susilo can visit Palestine at any time and that the people of Palestine will warmly welcome him," he said.

However, Hassan said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not yet come up with a fixed date for the visit, since it would require detailed security observations before the President could safely enter the Palestine capital Ramallah.

"President Susilo has requested me to explore the possibility of a visit. We are now still preparing the safest ways for the President to enter Ramallah ... It is also still not decided whether the visit could be realized after a visit to China," said Hassan.

President Susilo recently put forward his planned visit to China, as well as to Brunei and Thailand due to the fuel crisis at home. The visit has been rescheduled for late this month or early August.