Soeharto to embark on overseas trip

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto will embark on a 12-day overseas trip this morning to Namibia, South Africa, Canada and Saudi Arabia before returning home on Nov. 29.

The economic situation and East Timor will likely be some of the major issues raised during talks with his hosts, especially South African President Nelson Mandela.

Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono said Friday Soeharto's state visit to Namibia and South Africa was in exchange for the visits of Namibia's President Sam Nujoma and Nelson Mandela to Indonesia in August.

The President and his entourage will arrive in Windhoek, Namibia's capital on Nov. 18, and will stay there for two nights before leaving for Cape Town, South Africa, on Nov. 20.

His entourage includes Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas, Moerdiono and the government's economic advisor Widjojo Nitisastro.

"The President will use the visit to Cape Town as an opportunity to exchange views with Mandela," Moerdiono said.

Mandela visited Jakarta in early August. During his talks with Soeharto, the South African leader offered to help Indonesia find an international solution to the East Timor issue.

Indonesian officials said at the time that Soeharto was impressed with Mandela's offer. Soeharto allowed Mandela to meet with jailed East Timorese separatist leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao at the State Guesthouse.

According to senior Indonesian officials, the government assumed that Mandela would use "silent diplomacy" in his mediating role.

"His role will be effective if he can avoid publicity," a senior official said. He was surprised when Mandela, a few weeks after his visit to Jakarta, openly asked Soeharto to release Xanana as part of a solution to the East Timor issue.

The situation was worsened after Mandela's letter to Soeharto on Xanana was "mistakenly" sent to the Portuguese Embassy in Pretoria.

AFP yesterday quoted South African officials as saying that Mandela would renew his appeal for the release of Xanana during his meeting with Soeharto.

"I'm hoping there will be a major breakthrough," South African Foreign Affairs Minister Alfred Nzo said last week.

East Timor was integrated as Indonesia's 27th province in 1976. The United Nations, however, still regards Portugal as the administrative power.

On Nov. 22, Soeharto will leave for Vancouver, Canada to attend the APEC summit from Nov. 24 to Nov. 25.

Soeharto is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with other leaders although there is still no official agenda. U.S. President Clinton will also attend the summit.

On Nov. 25, Soeharto will leave for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for a private religious pilgrimage.

"The President and his family will perform an umrah (minor pilgrimage) to Mecca," said Moerdiono.

The presidential entourage will arrive in Jakarta on Nov. 29. (prb)