Soeharto back at work, in good spirits

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto was back to business with "good spirit", his close aides said yesterday.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas told journalists after a morning session with the President that "he (Soeharto) was obviously in good spirits and in good health".

Alatas was the first minister the president received to discuss state affairs after returning from a much-publicized medical checkup in Germany on Saturday.

Alatas said he had briefed the President on the upcoming week of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ministerial level meetings, due to begin at the end of the week.

"We had a long meeting where I had the opportunity to give a full briefing to the President on the series of meetings with regards to ASEAN," he said of the meeting at the presidential residence on Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta.

Amid speculation on his health, Soeharto left for Germany on July 7 accompanied by his children for a three-day health examination in the town of Bad Oeynhausen, Germany.

The rumors caused a frenzied trend in the nation's financial market, as speculation about his health was rife.

However, results of the checkup proved Soeharto was in excellent condition, and doctors revealed that the President only needed to diet to reduce his weight.

Though he has yet to attend any state functions at the State Palace, yesterday's hour-long meeting with Alatas was the first official business the President has attended.

Based on Alatas' account, the President showed no indications of decline from age. In fact, he seemed very interested in discussing the many engagements he has in the coming year.

"He was in a good mood," Alatas remarked.

Soeharto is scheduled to open the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Saturday. He is scheduled to meet next week with 13 foreign ministers participating in the ASEAN Regional Forum.

Among the international engagements that were discussed during the meeting with Alatas is the planned visit to Manila in November for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and the informal ASEAN summit, which Soeharto will be hosting here in December.

"He was obviously eager to get back to his usual programs and was also asking about other programs that were in store for him during the year," Alatas said.

Among the other invitations discussed was the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization meeting later this year, and the Group of 15 summit next year in Malaysia.

"He is certainly going to Rome for the FAO summit meeting. And there is the ASEAN informal summit in December," he said. He added, however, that Soeharto's attendance at the G-15 meeting had yet to be decided.

Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono separately also told journalists of Soeharto's excellent health.

He noted that Soeharto has also decided to attend a ceremony in East Nusa Tenggara which had been delegated to Vice President Try Sutrisno because he felt in good shape. (mds)