Soeharto begins visit in Germany

Soeharto begins visit in Germany

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto arrived in Hannover yesterday
to start a six-day state visit to Germany aimed chiefly at
promoting economic and trade relations between the two countries.

The highlight of his visit will be to open the large Hannover
Industrial Fair together with his host, Chancellor Helmut Kohl,
today.

Soeharto flew in on board a Garuda Indonesia DC 10 plane to a
foggy and chilly morning in Hannover yesterday, according to the
state-owned television network TVRI.

His entourage includes First Lady Tien Soeharto, Minister of
Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas and Minister/State Secretary
Moerdiono. State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie
joined them in Hannover.

This year Indonesia has been chosen by the fair's organizers
as Germany's "Country Partner", an honor given to a country in
recognition of its successes in economy, development and
technology.

Executives from more than 100 Indonesian private and
government-owned companies and agencies will be there to showcase
Indonesia's successes. The fair, participated in by more than 60
countries and with more than 400,000 visitors expected, offers an
important forum for the promotion of Indonesian products not only
in Germany, but also Europe and other parts of the world.

Soeharto will be in Germany until April 6. From Hannover, he
will travel to Bonn, Dusseldorf and Dresden, a town in the former
East Germany. His agenda includes a series of meetings with Kohl,
Germany's President Roman Herzog and other local leaders.

One of the issues expected to be raised during the meeting
with Kohl is Soeharto's recent visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina,
officials said.

Chancellor Helmut Kohl's Christian Democrats (CDU) welcomed
Soeharto's visit yesterday, Reuters reported.

"We place high value on cooperation with up-and-coming nations
in southeast Asia with their more than 300 million people,"
deputy CDU parliamentary leader Rudolf Seiters said.

He pointed out Germany was Indonesia's third-biggest trading
partner after Japan and the United States.

Seiters said Germany has to discuss respect of human rights
with Indonesia, as it does with other countries, and welcomed
Jakarta's willingness to hold talks on the issue.

The President was greeted at the Hannover airport by Germany's
Minister of Economy, Transportation and Technology Peter Fisher
and the chief of the Hannover Fair organizing committee, Klaus
Goerhmann, Antara reported.

After opening the fair on Sunday, Soeharto is scheduled to
inaugurate the Indonesian stand at the Congress Centrum on
Monday. Kohl is also expected to attend the ceremony.

The Indonesian leader is also scheduled to attend a meeting of
the Indonesia-Germany Economic/Technology Cooperation Forum
during his stay.

At the completion of his visit in Germany, Soeharto will
continue with his overseas trip to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and
Turkmenistan. Officials said the objective of the visits will
also be to promote trade with the former Soviet republics in
Central Asia.

He is scheduled to return to Indonesia on April 13. (pwn/emb)