UN chief to attend reunion in West Java

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is scheduled to attend a reunion of UN Peacekeeping Force members at Santi Darma security and peace center in Sentul, West Java in March, according to a minister. After attending a limited cabinet meeting at the presidential office on Thursday, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said the UN chief would be at the reunion in Sentul in March.

"Ban Ki-moon will be present in Sentul to attend the reunion of UN Peacekeeping Force members," Purnomo confirmed.

The defense minister said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who had been a member of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Bosnia, would also attend the reunion. Purnomo said that besides attending the reunion, the UN chief would also deliver the keynote address at the Jakarta International Defense Dialog (JIDD) on March 20.

The government of Indonesia organized the JIDD last year to discuss both regional and international issues. Present at the JIDD 2011 were 50 international speakers, 1,300 participants from various countries, Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, Brazilian Defense Minister Nelson Jobim, Malaysian Defense Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and Minister for International Security Strategy Gerald Howarth MP. Welcome to Indonesia!