PRESIDENT YUDHOYONO RECEIVES VISIT OF TIMOR LESTE PRESIDENT

Jakarta - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono received a state visit from new Timor Leste President Ramos Horta at Merdeka Palace, on Tuesday (5/6/07)

The three-day state visit, which lasted until June 6, was Horta's first oversea trip in his capacity as the President of Timor Leste. The two Heads of State held a bilateral meeting after a state welcoming ceremony at the front yard of the Merdeka Palace.

Ramos Horta, the former Timor Leste Prime Minister, was elected as the second president of the tiny country in a democratic election, and was sworn in as the new President by Timor Leste's Parliament on May 20, 2007.

Yudhoyono had sent Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirajuda to be present at the swearing-in ceremony of President Horta in Dili, the capital of Timor Leste.

During the state visit to Indonesia, Horta was accompanied by Timor Leste’s Foreign Affairs Minister Adalijiza Magno, Deputy Education Minister Victor Da Costa Suares, Defense Minister Lieutenant Colonel Filameno Paixo, and Lieutenant Colonel Joao Moranda Alub Descart.

In the bilateral meeting between Horta and Yudhoyono, the Indonesian President was accompanied by a number of ministers including Education Minister Bambang Sudibyo, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Boediono, Research and Technology Minister Kusmayanto Kadiman, Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, National Police Chief Sutanto and National Military (TNI) Chief Marshal Djoko Suyanto.  (Antara, 5/6/07)

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