Team reports preparations for APEC
Team reports preparations for APEC
JAKARTA (JP): Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono, also
chairman of the committee for the Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) forum, met with President Soeharto here
yesterday to report on preparations for the November meeting.
"I have just reported to the President on the field
preparations for the coming APEC economic leaders meeting,"
Moerdiono said at the Bina Graha presidential office.
He told journalists that his report focused on the arrangement
of two main events, the leader's working dinner on Nov. 14 and
the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting (AELM) on Nov. 15.
Indonesia will host the sixth APEC Ministerial Meeting here on
from Nov. 11 to Nov. 12, which will be followed by the second
AELM at the Bogor Presidential Palace, some 60 kilometers south
of here, on Nov. 15.
APEC comprises Canada, the United States, Mexico, Japan,
China, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand,
Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea,
Australia and New Zealand. Chile will join the forum next month.
Fifteen heads of state are expected to be in Indonesia to
represent their countries in the "informal" meeting in Bogor.
Sitting
"I don't have to be given a higher chair ... I want all the
AELM leaders to be sitting in equal positions," Moerdiono quoted
Soeharto as instructing him on the seating arrangements in the
Garuda Room of the Bogor palace, where the leaders will convene.
Soeharto, as host, will sit in the middle, sandwiched between
two of the most powerful leaders in the world -- U.S. President
Bill Clinton on the right and Japanese Prime Minister Murayama on
the left.
The other leaders will sit in alphabetical order, starting
from Australia at the far right to Thailand on the left.
The Indonesian government has left nothing to chance in
preparations for what should be a highly momentous occasion in
the country's history.
Under the auspices of Moerdiono, a special host committee has
been formed to oversee the running of APEC meetings.
Due to the significance of the event, a horde of media people
are expected to descend on the APEC meeting venues, with over
2,300 local and foreign journalists registered so far.
Concern
Moerdiono said the president is paying tremendous attention to
the activities and needs of the journalists covering the AELM in
Bogor.
While the leaders convene inside the palace, journalists
outside will be entertained by dances and other cultural shows to
help them pass the seven-hour wait constructively.
"The sound system will be directed in such a way that it does
not disturb the leaders meeting inside," Sampurno, the head of
the presidential household and a member of the APEC national host
committee, remarked.
"Where will the toilets for the journalists be?" Soeharto was
quoted as asking in an obvious show of concern.
Sampurno explained that 20 toilets will be available for the
exclusive use of journalists.
While the leaders are busy conversing in Bogor, a ladies
program has been planned at the Indonesian Miniature Park (TMII).
In the afternoon, first lady Tien Soeharto will host a
luncheon at the Merdeka Palace here.
Sampurno said that American first lady Hillary Clinton might
not attend the luncheon because she would likely be traveling to
Yogyakarta.
Speaking on preparations for the working dinner to be held at
the Jakarta Convention Center on the eve of the AELM, Moerdiono
expects about 200 guests.
"The working dinner will be an opportunity for the leaders to
exchange views on the decisions that could be reached in Bogor on
Nov. 15," Moerdiono said. (mds)
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