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Wahid says yes to visit

Source
The Melbourne Age - May 21, 2000

Brendan Nicholson – Indonesia's President Abdurrahman Wahid plans to visit Australia in July – the first Indonesian leader to do so in 26 years.

Prime Minister John Howard told journalists in the South Korean capital of Seoul yesterday that President Wahid had telephoned to accept his invitation to visit Australia. The bilateral meeting would take place before a tripartite meeting involving East Timorese leader Xanana Guasmo.

On May 9 Mr Howard told Parliament he had written to President Wahid encouraging him to visit Australia and suggesting talks between officials to set a date. Mr Howard said President Wahid told him he was still looking forward to visiting Australia.

"I suggested some dates in July and they will be a matter of discussion between the Australian ambassador in Jakarta and President Wahid's office," Mr Howard said.

"This is the first occasion on which we have spoken. It was a very pleasant conversation. We're both looking forward to meeting each other."

Mr Howard said he told President Wahid he would receive a warm and generous welcome from the Australian people. He said he told President Wahid he admired the leadership he had given Indonesia since taking over in difficult circumstances.

"I expect that he will be honored with an honorary doctorate in at least one or perhaps two Australian universities. That, of course, is a matter for those institutions."

Mr Howard said he had made it clear repeatedly that the relationship between Australia and Indonesia was an important one.

The visit will provide an opportunity to improve relations between the two nations, which have been strained since the bloodshed that followed the independence ballot in East Timor and Australia's key military role in the international intervention there.

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