Soeharto arrives for APEC summit
VANCOUVER, Canada (JP): President Soeharto arrived here on a cold, wet evening Sunday, among the last of the 18 leaders to arrive for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
Soeharto and his entourage, which included Minister of Foreign Ali Alatas and Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono, touched down at 11 p.m. local time. They were met by Vancouver Mayor Philip Owen and Fisheries Minister David Anderson.
Also present was Coordinating Minister for Production and Distribution Hartarto who arrived several days earlier to attend the APEC ministerial meeting.
The President was immediately whisked to Hotel Vancouver located in the heart of the downtown area where he will spend the next two nights.
Soeharto was met there by Indonesia's Consul General to Vancouver Jacky Wahyu. There was little ceremony at the hotel, allowing the President to rest after his six-hour flight from Cancun, Mexico.
Soeharto is on the last leg of his tour which has taken the 76-year-old President to Namibia and South Africa.
There was no sign of demonstrators near Soeharto's hotel, which is also accommodating Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai.
Earlier Sunday morning 5,000 people took to the streets to express a multitude of concerns which included East Timor's integration into Indonesia and alleged human rights abuses.
Activists here have promised to hold another large demonstration against APEC leaders today.
Soeharto's agenda over the next two days is full.
Monday (today Indonesian time) he will hold bilateral talks with Australian Prime Minister John Howard, New Zealand Prime Minister Jim Bolger, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien and United States President Bill Clinton.
Soeharto is also due to have lunch with other leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), before attending the official APEC proceedings.
On Tuesday (tomorrow Indonesian time) Soeharto and the other leaders will attend the APEC retreat at the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia. (prb/mds)