Susilo to visit U.S., Palestine in September

A historic visit to Palestine will wrap up an overseas trip President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to make in September.

The President will be out of the country from Sept. 11 to Sept. 23 on a trip that will also take him to the United States and Saudi Arabia.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Wednesday the President would make his second visit to the U.S. in four months to attend the 2005 World Summit at the United Nation in New York. Susilo is slated to deliver a speech at the UN on Sept. 16.

While in the U.S., the President also will participate in an ASEAN summit scheduled to be held on the sidelines of the UN summit. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is expected to address the regional summit.

Hassan said the President would also hold bilateral talks with several heads of state or government during his stay in the U.S.

"The government is also considering a request from the New York Stock Exchange and a number of U.S. entrepreneurs to meet with the President," Hassan said.

Saudi Arabia will be the next stop on Susilo's overseas trip, where he is scheduled to meet with King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, who succeeded his brother, king Fahd, who died earlier this month.

The President and First Lady Kristiani Herrawati are also expected to perform a minor haj pilgrimage while in Saudi Arabia.

A visit to Palestine will wrap up the President's trip.

Hassan said Susilo would be the first Indonesian president to set foot in Palestine.

"It will prove the consistency of Indonesia's support for Palestine independence and its peaceful coexistence with other countries," he said.

During the Asian-African summit in April, Palestine asked Indonesia to play a greater role in the peace process in the Middle East.

Susilo traveled to China earlier this month. -- JP