JAKARTA (Antara): Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Bill Farmer has welcomed the visit to Jakarta next week by New South Wales Governor Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO.
"The governor is very much looking forward to renewing her acquaintance with Governor Sutiyoso and to her time in the vibrant city of Jakarta", the ambassador was quoted as saying by the Australian Embassy in a press statement released on Friday.
The NSW governor’s visit from Aug. 26 to Aug. 29, 2007 reflects the long-standing and warm relationship between New South Wales and Jakarta which was formalized in a Memorandum of Understanding on Sister State-Province Cooperation signed in 1994.
Apart from meeting Governor Sutiyoso, Professor Bashir will also meet Vice President Jusuf Kalla.
Consistent with her interest in health issues, Professor Bashir will hold talks with health officials and visit a Central Jakarta community health center to see an HIV prevention and care program funded by the Australian government.
She will also visit the University of Indonesia’s Faculty of Medicine, Bintaro International Hospital, Cengkareng District Hospital and hold talks with senior Muhammadiyah officials.
The ambassador said it was important to note the difference between the offices of the two respective governors.
"These two positions are very different political entities. Jakarta’s Governor is, of course, elected, whereas Professor Bashir is not a politician but was appointed by the Queen of Australia based on a recommendation of the New South Wales Premier," Farmer said.
The governor is the representative in New South Wales of the Queen of Australia. In accordance with the strict rules of protocol, she does not give media interviews. (**)
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