PRESIDENT YUDHOYONO HAS BILATERAL MEETING WITH PNG LEADER

Port Moresby, March 12 (ANTARA) - Visiting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono held a bilateral meeting with Papua New Guinean Prime Minister Michael Somare here on Friday.

The bilateral meeting was held in the framework of President Yudhoyono's two-day state visit to Port Moresby after visiting Canberra and Sydney, Australia since Tuesday, March 9, 2010.

President Yudhoyono at the meeting with Somare was accompanied among others by Coordinating Minister for Economy Hatta Rajasa, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affaris Djoko Suyanto, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan, Agriculture Minister Suswono, State Minister for Youth and Sports Affairs Andi Malarangeng, Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu, West Papua Governor Bram Ataruri, East Nusa Tenggara Governor Frans Lebu Raya, Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu, West Nusa Tenggara Governor Zainu Majdi, and Bali Governor I Made Mangku Pastika.

Various issues discussed at the bilateral meeting were related to border security, and cooperation in forestry, agriculture, and trade sectors.

Indonesia and PNG prone to have border problem but it has been able to be managed so far through "Joint Border Committee Forum" every year.

Earlier on Thursday night at a banquet, PNG Prime Minister Michael Somare awarded President Yudhoyono with Grand Companion of the Order of Hogolu for his meritorious services in the improvement of Indonesia-PNG relations.

Similar award has been given to a number of state leaders such as United States President Bill Clinton and Prince Charles of the United Kingdom.

Yudhoyono's visit to PNG is the second by an Indonesian president since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1975.

The first was made by President Soeharto in 1979, while Prime Minister Michael Somare has twice visited Indonesia namely in December 2007 and in May 2009.