President Obama delays Indonesian visit
Erwida Maulia, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 10/07/2009 1:42 PM
Indonesia’s presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal says US President Barack Obama will delay his Indonesian visit from November to some time next year.
Dino told a press briefing at the Presidential Office on Wednesday that the delay had nothing to do with security reasons, but more in a hope to produce a 'more productive' meeting between Obama and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
"President Barack Obama met with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the margins of the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh on September 25, 2009 and discussed President Obama's intention to visit Indonesia," he said.
"They agreed on the importance on having a visit that would showcase the importance of growing US-Indonesia bilateral relations. After reviewing the possibilities, they agreed that the best time for such a visit would be some time next year."
Obama had been earlier reportedly planning to visit Jakarta in November after attending an APEC meeting in Singapore.
Dino said, however, that the visit would be best done next year.
"It's true we need a right time because this visit has to be special and productive, considering President Obama has spent part of his childhood here."
