SBY understands Obama’s option to delay Indonesian visit

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has communicated with US President Barack Obama in connection with the latter’s decision to delay his trip to Indonesia.

Presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha said Friday that President Yudhoyono spoke with Obama over the phone at about 9 a.m. Jakarta time.

“The President could understand [the delay],” Julian said.

Obama has rescheduled his nostalgic trip to Indonesia for the fourth time. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said just after midnight that Obama was delaying the trip to some undetermined date with "deep regret."

No immediate reason was offered. But the timing comes as the US is grappling with the worst oil spill in the nation's history.

Julian said presidential spokesman for foreign affairs Dino Patti Djalal, who accompanied Yudhoyono during his phone conversation with Obama, would hold a media conference later in the day concerning Obama’s delayed visit.