Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government of Indonesia is taking steps to anticipate the impact of European crisis on the national economy, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said.

Speaking at a cabinet plenary meeting at his office on Friday, President Yudhoyono said the situation in Europe should be Indonesia`s concern and part of national economic steps in 2012.

"We continue to keep abreast of developments in the world economy, and on Thursday we discussed at length with German President Christian Wulff about the real situation in the European Union and Eurozone," President Yudhoyono said.

Yudhoyono said that the German president as well as the leaders of several international monetary institutions had commented on the development of economic condition in Europe.

Therefore the head of state said the 2012 State Budget should be prepared well and implemented properly.

"All along I have warned that the important tool of 2012 State Budget be arranged, allocated, and implemented properly because it has something to do with our economy," the president asserted.

He added that the government should ensure fiscal discipline to maintain the national economy.

"The government`s expenditure should be managed properly, debt relief should not be left without the propriety because it is in line with the depth to gross domestic product ratio. Besides fiscal discipline, we have to work even harder and do many things for our national economy," the president said.

He noted that the government should not wait until the crisis hit the national economy.

President Yudhoyono chaired the cabinet plenary meeting this time to discuss measures to anticipate possible economic crisis as a result of Eurozone problem.

Other issues discussed at the meeting were related to Indonesian foreign policy, and the attitude toward fundamental and strategic issues in international relations. (*)
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Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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