President chairs limited cabinet meeting in Berlin

SBY PRESIDENCY. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono chaired a limited cabinet meeting here on Wednesday.The meeting was attended by ministers joining the presidential entourage on an eight-day European tour.

They included Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, and Industry Minister MS Hidayat.

The meeting was believed to discuss Indonesia`s final preparations before the head of state joining the UN Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono left for Europe last Sunday (Dec. 13) on an eight-day tour of four European countries, namely Belgium, France, Germany, and
Denmark.

On December 17, the president will be in Copenhagen, Denmark, to participate in the 15th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Over 100 world leaders are expected to join the COP 15 UNFCCC which will take place until December 19, 2009.

The 145-member Presidential entourage to the European trip includes Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Trade Minister Mari Pangestu, State Minister of Environmental Affairs Gusti Muhammad Hatta, Industry Minister MS Hidayat, and Agriculture Minister Suswono.

Also joining the presidential entourage are a number of provincial governors such as North Sulawesi Governor Sarun Dayang, Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo, Papua Governor Papua Barnabas Suebu, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Governor Irwandi Jusuf, and Central Kalimantan Governor Teras Narang.

President Yudhoyono and his entourage are scheduled to return home on December 20, 2009(ANTARA News)