"As a president when I organize an event I will certainly assure the security."
Monrovia (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono confirmed he would continue with his planned visit to Egypt to attend the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit on February 3 to 5.

"We hope situation in Cairo is safe. But in case of an emergency, a response would certainly be given," he said at a press conference here early Saturday.

Flanked by Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa and several cabinet members the President said he had received no information from Cairo yet with regard to the actual situation and conditions there and so no cancellation has been made of the summit which is to be attended by around 50 heads of state and government.

"As a president when I organize an event I will certainly assure the security," he said.

He said he could understand in case it would finally be cancelled due to unfavorable condition.

"I would not blame any party (because of it). What is important is the aim of the summit is achieved. I could understand if finally it had to be cancelled because of disruptions," he said.

He said however that until now no official information had been received from the Egyptian government. Therefore, he said, the foreign minister kept communicating with the Indonesian ambassador in Egypt and he had always been given an update.

President Yudhoyono said several heads of state had said they would continue to attend the summit despite the unfavorable situation.

Three provinces in Egypt have so far been declared under emergency status while series of demonstrations had also occurred in Cairo.

Referring to Thailand`s experience in the past, President Yudhoyono said that country had finally decided to cancel an ASEAN Summit and evacuated participants due to disruptions in that country.

President Yudhoyono who at the time had just landed in Bangkok, flew back home because of the decision.

"I hope situation in Cairo will be safe," he said.

President Yudhoyono and entourage have been scheduled to proceed to Nigeria from here and later conduct a minor hajj pilgrimage in Mecca and Medina but before returning home he would visit Egypt for the OIC summit.

(Reporting by Akhmad Kusaeni; editing by Yoseph Hariyadi; check-editing by Fardah)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2013