President Yudhoyono`s presence at the function was part of his working visit to the province, adjacent to Timor Leste.
Among ministers accompanying the president at the function to observe the National Press Day were Communications and Information Minister Tifatul Sembiring, Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono, Coordinating Minister Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Social Affairs Minister Salim Segaf Aljufrie, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, National Defense Forces (TNI) Chief Admiral Agus Suhartono, Youth and Sports Affairs Minister Andi Malarangeng, Industry Minister MS Hidayat, and East Nusa Tenggara Governor Frans Lebu Raya.
Accompanied by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, the head of state and his entourage arrived in Kupang at 2 pm local time on Tuesday for a working visit to the province until Friday, February 11.
Soon after arriving here, the president immediately inaugurated a monument called "Gong Perdamaian" (peace gong) at Nostalgic Park here in the city of Kupang, then dedicated a smart house and planted trees.
Kupang Mayor Daniel Adoe said the monument was expected to help strengthen messages of peace, pluralism, and tolerance.
The 500 m2 peace gong monument is located in the 6-hectare Nostalgic Park.
After attending the National Press Day on Wednesday, the president and his entourage will proceed to Atambua and will stay there until Friday morning. Atambua, Belu, is located around 300 km east of Kupang and takes around eight hours by car from Kupang.
They will stay over night in a military tent while in Atambua to visit Yonif 744/SYB military personnel guarding the border area shared by Indonesia and Timor Leste.
But before proceeding to Atambua, the head of state and his entourage will make their way to SoE, the Timor Tengah Selatan district town.
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Editor: AA Ariwibowo
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
