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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