PRESIDENT ATTENDS NATIONAL PRESS DAY IN PALEMBANG

Jakarta Forum - Palembang, South Sumatra, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono attended the 64th commemoration of National Press Day here on Tuesday.

The head of state departed from Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force base, eastern Jakarta, at 8 am Western Indonesian Standard Time (WIB) by Boeing 737-500 and arrived at Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II airport, Palembang, at about 9.10 am WIB.

South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin greeted the head of state and his entourage upon his arrival in Palembang.

President Yudhoyono was scheduled to deliver an opening remark and receive Indonesian Press Encyclopedia (EPI) from the chairman of the Indonesian Journalist Association (PWI) Margiono.

The theme of this year`s National Press Day is "Press Freedom, From and For the People".

The head of state was also expected to witness signings of company standard ratification documents by 20 press companies, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Indonesian School of Journalism (SJI) established at the initiatives of the press industry, the National Education Ministry, UNESCO and the regional administration.

President Yudhoyono is expected to return to Jakarta at 12.40 WIB.

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