Soeharto cancels trip to OIC summit in Iran

Soeharto cancels trip to OIC summit in Iran

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto has canceled a planned trip
to attend an Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) summit in
Tehran after doctors advised him to take a 10-day rest.

But Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono was quick to point out
that the President was in good health and would remain in charge
of state affairs.

"I would like to announce that the presidential medical expert
team has advised the President to take a rest," Moerdiono told
journalists yesterday evening.

Moerdiono said doctors had advised the President "to rest
about 10 days... His (Soeharto's) own decision was to just rest
at his residence on Jl. Cendana," Moerdiono said.

"As we all know, throughout the year the President has been
packed with activities both at home and abroad," Moerdiono
explained.

Soeharto recently concluded a 12-day trip which included
Namibia, South Africa, Canada and Saudi Arabia.

Moerdiono said that during the trip the President traveled
28,500 kilometers and endured 62 flying hours.

"He could hardly rest during the tour because he always
worked, often until late at night, to prepare for the summit and
to monitor domestic economic developments," a state official who
was part of the presidential entourage said.

Following his return on Nov. 28, Soeharto resumed state
functions.

On Wednesday, a healthy looking Soeharto made an impromptu
visit to two major rice depots in North and East Jakarta. There
he talked directly to market vendors about the rice stock in the
market.

This is not the first time the 76-year-old President has had
to cut down on official state functions due to health reasons.

In August 1994 he had to spend a night at the Gatot Subroto
Army Hospital for kidney stones treatment.

In July 1996, less than three months after the death of the
First Lady Tien Soeharto, Soeharto went to Germany for a medical
checkup at a cardiac hospital. He was given a clean bill of
health.

Moerdiono did not say yesterday that Soeharto was suffering
from any ailments, adding that "the presidential doctor team is
of the opinion that the President is in good health".

"The President has directed me as state secretary to check all
incoming letters, and to convey to him only the most urgent
letters which need his approval."

Soeharto had earlier been scheduled to attend the OIC summit
in Tehran from Dec. 9 to Dec. 11.

"The President has decided to assign the Minister of Foreign
Affairs Ali Alatas to represent him at the summit. The foreign
minister will be carrying a letter for the Iranian president
expressing the President's apology for not being able to attend
as originally planned," Moerdiono explained.

Another major meeting which is now pending is the informal
summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in
Kuala Lumpur on Dec. 14.

Moerdiono could not say whether Soeharto would be able to
attend the ASEAN summit.

"I still cannot give you any statement now. I will announce it
later at an appropriate time," he said.

Soeharto had for the past two days canceled his agenda. He was
originally scheduled, among other things, to lead on Thursday the
presentation of Upakarti awards and to inaugurate from Jakarta
three mines and energy projects in Irian Jaya and East Kalimantan
yesterday.

Vice President Try Sutrisno stood in Soeharto's place. (prb)

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