Soeharto to embark on overseas trip
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)