Soeharto to attend G-15 Summit

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto will leave for Cairo on Saturday morning for a one-week visit for the Group of 15 Summit, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas said yesterday.

The President will attend the three-day summit beginning Monday and stay on in Cairo for a state visit.

"This will be the President's first overseas trip after his reelection in March," Alatas said after attending a monthly cabinet meeting at Bina Graha presidential office.

When announcing the list of his cabinet in March, the President disclosed that Vice President B.J. Habibie would assist him in international meetings. Habibie represented him during the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in London last month.

The summit is expected to discuss the current world situation, including the international money market and monetary situation in developing countries, Alatas noted.

Established in 1989, the G-15 comprises Indonesia, Egypt, Malaysia, Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, Venezuela and Zimbabwe. Kenya was admitted as a new member during the last summit in Kuala Lumpur in November last year.

This will be Soeharto's second visit to Cairo after one in the 1970s. Mubarak visited Jakarta in 1983.

Alatas said the two leaders in their bilateral talks would try to find ways to boost bilateral trade, still small both in volume and value.

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, Indonesian exports to Egypt totaled US$180.03 million in 1996, while its imports amounted to only $9.8 million.

"During the state visit, ministers from the two countries are also expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on the avoidance of double taxation," Alatas said.

Soeharto and his entourage, including Alatas and Minister/State Secretary Saadilah Mursjid, are scheduled to arrive back in Jakarta on May 16. (prb)