Turkish PM Erdogan to visit Indonesia

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan will visit Indonesia from Feb. 6 to Feb. 7 during a regional tour of countries hit by the Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami, the Embassy of Turkey in Jakarta said.

Erdogan, who will be accompanied by State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin, State Minister Mehmet Aydin, Health Minister Recep Akdag and Public Works Minister Zeki Ergezen, will arrive in Banda Aceh on Sunday to survey the damage and meet with Turkish relief workers. Erdogan is also scheduled to meet with Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Alwi Shihab in Banda Aceh before flying to Jakarta.

On Monday, the delegation will meet Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla. They will then pay a courtesy call to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and hold bilateral talks at the palace.

The delegation, which also consists of members of parliament, high level officials and businesspeople, will leave on Monday afternoon for Kuala Lumpur, the embassy said in a press statement sent to The Jakarta Post on Friday.

Meanwhile, Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot will visit Jakarta on Saturday in a tour of tsunami-stricken countries including Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. He is scheduled to meet with Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda, as well as Vice President Kalla and President Susilo. Bot will fly to Aceh on Sunday.