[asia-apec 184] (No Subject in original)

[sonny at nation.nationgroup.com]

FOR CIRCULATION
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JAKARTA, Wednesday, Oct 23 -- Agence France-Presse

GERMAN Chancellor Helmut Kohl's four-day visit to Indonesia beginning
SATURDAY will be focused at forging closer economic and trade ties
between the two countries, State Secretary Murdiono said Wednesday.

But Kohl has also been urged to take up the issue of human rights in the
disputed territory of East Timor during his visit.

"The main aim is to enhance bilateral ties which have so far been quite
good, (and) especially to increase economic and trade ties," Murdiono
said.

Kohl is to arrive here Saturday and will be flown to the Bira private
island in the bay of Jakarta where he will spend the night. Indonesian
President Suharto will be on hand at Bira to greet his guest and the two
leaders are scheduled to indulge in a bout of fishing in the nearby
waters.

The official state welcoming ceremony will be held at Jakarta's Merdeka
Palace on Monday, followed by talks between the two leaders, Murdiono
said. They will also witness the signing of a bilateral commercial
shipping accord, Murdiono said, without elaborating.

JOSE Ramos-Horta, this year's co-winner of the Nobel Peace prize, urged
Kohl to push for human rights in East Timor during the visit.

"No other European country has as much weight in Indonesia as Germany," he
said in Tuesday's edition of the German daily "Frankfurter Rundschau". He
also urged Kohl to halt German arms sales to Jakarta.

Ramos-Horta said the people of East Timor are hopeful that Germany can
help find a peaceful solution to the conflict pitting Jakarta against East
Timorese who seek self-determination.

Kohl will be accompanied by his Economic Minister Gunther Rexrodt, Post
and Telecommunications Minister Wolfgang Boesche, Technology and Research
Minister Jurgen Ruettgiers and a delegation of over 70 business leaders.

Kohl is scheduled to leave for the Philippines on Tuesday and will also
travel to Tokyo for the final leg of his Asia tour.