Yudhoyono Receives Timor Leste President

Jakarta, June 21 (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono received a state visit from Timor Leste President Taur Matan Ruak at the Merdeka Palace here on Friday. President Yudhoyono and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono greeted President Taur Matan Ruak and First Lady Isabel Da Costa Ferreira who arrived at the palace at around 03.30 p.m. in a state ceremony with a 21-gun salute rendered in their honor. The national anthems of both countries were played as the Timor Leste president inspected the Indonesian guard of honor. A number of ministers attended the welcoming ceremony. They were Foreign Minister Marty Natalega, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmantao, and Youth and Sports Minister Roy Suryo. The other were Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik, Social Services Minister Salim Segaf Al Jufri, National Development Planning Minister/Chief of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Armida S Alisjahbana and Environment Minister Balthazar Kambuaya. This is Taur Matan Ruak`s first visit in Jakarta since he was inducted Timor Leste president on May 20, 2012 replacing Jose Ramos Horta. In May 2012, Yudhoyono met Taur Matan Ruak when the Indonesian leader visited Timor Leste at the invitation of Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao to attend the 10th anniversary of Timor Leste. During the visit, Yudhoyono attended the inauguration of Taur Matan Ruak as Timor Leste president and received `The Grand Collar of the Order of Timor Leste` medal from the Timor Leste government.