PRESIDENT RETURNS HOME FROM ASEAN SUMMIT

Jakarta, April 10 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono returned home here Saturday, after attending the 16th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi since Thursday (April 8).

The presidential Boeing 737-300 landed at Halim Perdanakusuma air force base, East Jakarta, with the President, the First Lady, the entourage on board.

The head of state and Madame Ani Yudhoyono were greeted by Vice President Boediono and his wife, Herawati Boediono, as well as several cabinet ministers, upon arrival at Halim Perdanakusuma.

Among the members of the president's entourage were Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi and Industry Minister MS Hidayat.

Talks at the just-concluded Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Vietnam's capital Hanoi were dominated by the Myanmar issue, as well as the political drama in Thailand where protracted political unrest had forced its premier to stay in the country.

"The main message that has coming out from the summit on Myanmar is the importance of the elections that are coming up in 2010, and not any type of elections," said Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa
"But instead an election that is free, that is fair, that is democratic, that is credible. These are qualities that Myanmar itself has said they want to fulfil. So I think the clarion call... is the importance for Myanmar to live up to its commitments."
Meanwhile, Indonesia has obtained Brunei Darussalam's consent to host the 11th Asean Summit which was originally due to be held in the sultanate next year, Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa said on Friday.

The minister explained Indonesia was initially scheduled to host an ASEAN summit in 2013. However, in 2013, Indonesia also had to host an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
About preparations for hosting the 11th ASEAN Summit next year, Marty said in January 2011 or seven months from now, there would be a ministerial meeting to discuss the summit's agenda.

Indonesia now had to prepare the substance of the summit's discussions and its logistics. Also, he said, like in 2003, when Indonesia was the ASEAn chair, the country must be ready to accept the same duties in 2011.

ASEAN comprises Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Camdodia, Laos, and Myanmar.