REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DANARAU -- Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Josaia Bainimarama welcomed Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Mrs Ani Yudhoyono at the Nadi Airport at 22.30 local time on Tuesday night or 17.30 Indonesian Western Standard Time (WIB).

The Indonesian president was welcomed with an official ceremony in the presence of Indonesian ambassador to Fiji Gary Rachman Makmun Jusuf, Fijian ambassador to Indonesia Peceli Vuniwaga Vocea and a number of Fijian ministers.

In his working visit to Fiji, President Yudhoyono was accompanied by among others Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Cabinet Minister Dipo Alam and a number of other state officials.

The president and his entourage were flown for nine hours from Indonesia's Halim Perdanakusumah airport in Jakarta to Fiji.

The head of state, in addition to conducting a state visit, will also attend the Forum of the Pacific Island Countries in Denarau, Nadi Fiji. Denarau is resort region about three hours drive from the capital city of Suva.

Previously at the Halim Perdanakusumah airport, before he took off for Fiji, President Yudhoyono said his visit will be a three-day working visit from June 17 to June 19. The aim of his visit was to strengthen bilateral relations with countries in the South Pacific region.

"The South Pacific region is important, and therefore, since the past ten years we have strengthened our relations with key countries," President Yudhoyono remarked at a press conference before leaving the Halim Perdanakusuma Airport for Fiji.

Yudhoyono noted that over the years, Indonesia has worked toward building good relations with Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand, among others.

The head of state explained that good relations with countries in the Pacific region were based on an agreement that they respect the sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia.

According to him, the Papua issue was frequently debated in the international level, but it can be resolved by fostering sound bilateral relations with the countries in the South Pacific region.

Yudhoyono stated that several events, such as the Pacific Island Forum and Melanesian Spearhead Group, were frequently used by certain groups to raise the Papua issue.

"But, my task is to improve cooperation and friendship with the South Pacific countries and to explain our policy with regard to Papua to them," the president noted.

According to Yudhoyono, cooperation and friendship with the South Pacific countries can reduce disinformation and misinformation about the Indonesian policy toward Papua in the context of international relations.

The President further added that he had allowed the representative of the Melanesian Spearhead Group to come to Papua to gain first-hand information about the economic development policy and security aspects.

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