Indonesian president plans to visit Iraq

President Abdurrahman Wahid of Indonesia is planning to visit Iraq at a yet to be determined time, Indonesian news agency Antara reported.

Speaking at a press conference on board Garuda airbus 330 which took him from Iran to Pakistan on Friday, the president said the visit to Iraq would be part of his next overseas tour.

Gus Dur (the president's popular name) said he also intended to visit Palestine, Syria, Turkey and Bangladesh. His visit to Palestine would only be to open an Indonesian representative office.

From Turkey, the president would fly to a border area between that country and Iraq, and then enter Iraq.

His plan to visit Iraq, according to the president, would be part of his efforts to practice a free and active foreign policy.

The president said a former US foreign official once called on him not to visit Iran, Iraq, Cuba, Libya and North Korea.

But the president later did visit Iran and Cuba, while Libyan leader Moammar Kaddafi is slated to come to Jakarta to attend the celebration of the Prophet Mohammed's birthday at the State Palace on June 22, 2000.

A number of other Moslem countries' leaders are also expected to visit Indonesia for the celebration, MAP reported.