U.S. envoy meets Yogyakarta sultan

U.S. envoy meets Yogyakarta sultan

YOGYAKARTA: U.S. Envoy Phillip Antweller has met with Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X to clarify a statement by U.S. Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce that the province was not safe for Americans.

Speaking after the meeting, Antweller said that he and the sultan discussed various issues, including cultural and educational cooperation.

The sultan had canceled his trip to Washington, D.C., apparently because of the statement by Boyce. The Yogyakarta leader was reported to have appointed his daughter, GKR Pembayun, to represent him.

But Pembayun denied the report on Thursday, adding that the plans had been dropped.

Provincial secretary Bambang S.P. said the cancellation of the sultan's trip was mainly because of a compulsory meeting to discuss the regional budget. --JP