PRESIDENT LEAVES TORONTO FOR TURKEY

Toronto, June 28 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono left Toronto, Canada, for Turkey on Sunday evening at around 8 pm local time.

The head of state left Toronto following the closing of the G-20 Summit which took place in Toronto, June 26-27. 2010.

In Ankara, Yudhoyono is to hold meetings with Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyib Erdogan.

He will also deliver a speech before the Turkish parliament and later attend an Indonesian-Turkish business forum to be participated in by around 800 representatives of the Turkish business world.

Yudhoyono is the first Indonesian president to visit Turkey in the last 25 years.

The president's visit to Turkey is part of a 11-day overseas tour which had taken him to Toronto and will include Saudi Arabia.

On July 1, the President will be in Saudi Arabia for a minor hajj pilgrimage.

The presidential entourage includes First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa, Industry Minister MS Hidayat, Trade Minister Mari E Pangestu, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Finance Minister Agus Martowardodjo, Cabinet Minister Dipo Alam, Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar, dan Chairman of the Investment Coordinating Board Gita Wirjawan.