PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN JAKARTA

Jakarta, Dec 20 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono arrived back here on Sunday morning from a week-long visit to a number of European countries.

The president and entourage arrived at the city's Halim Perdanakusuma military airport at 9.55 a.m by special flight.

A number of ranking officials greeted the president upon arrival. They included Vice President Boediono, National Police Chief Bambang Hendarso Danuri, Military Chief Djoko Santoso, Youth and Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono and Coordinating Minister for the Economy Hatta Rajasa.

Shortly after arriving at the airport, the president held a 30-minute briefing with the vice president and a number of ministers at the airport's VVIP waiting room.

In the briefing, the president spoke of a follow-up to the Indonesian diplomacy to step up bilateral cooperation particularly with the European Union.

The president left Jakarta for Europe on December 13 for a week-long visit which took him to Belgium, France, Germany and Denmark.