Soeharto back at work, in good spirits

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)