PRESIDENT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR BANK CENTURY BAILOUT

Jakarta, March 1 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will take responsibility for the 2008 Bank Century bailout in his speech he plans to deliver soon, his special aide for public relations, Heru Lelono, said.

"In essence, he will in his speech declare himself responsible for the effort to save the economy," Heru said in a briefing of media leaders about the president's policy over the Century case here on Monday.

He said , however, he could not as yet confirm when exactly the president would deliver the speech.

The speech would be the President's answer to the recommendations to be submitted by the House Bank Century Inquiry Committee that had investigated the case so far with regard to the decision in 2008 to inject Rp6.7 trillion into the failed bank, a step many lawmakers had considered unlawful.

Heru said the head of state would also explain the process of the policy making by the state officials in charge of financial affairs.

He said the President's speech would possibly be delivered one or two days or even a week after the House plenary session.

On the President's view of the possibility of dissolving the coalition, Heru said it would never be done because the coalition was set up for a bigger cause, namely the interest of the state.

"Until now President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is not thinking of dissolving the coalition," he said.

The President, he said. would even improve communications with the parties in the coalition to build common perceptions.

On the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle, Heru said the President had made a deal that was not linked to ministers from the other parties in the coalition.

"There are two deals made with regard to the appointment of the president's assistants, namely the integrity pact and working contract," he said.