President Yudhoyono Arrives In New York

New York, May 29 (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and entourage arrived at John F Kennedy Airport, New York, the United States at 12.40 p.m local time on Wednesday. The President in the company of First Lady Ani Yudhoyono and party arrived in New York after flying for about eight hours from Stockholm, Sweden. The President and entourage, when arriving, were welcomed by Indonesian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Desra Percaya and Indonesian Ambassador to the United States Dino Patti Djalal. Yudhoyono will be staying in the United States until May 31, 2013 to chair the Fifth Meeting of the High Level of Eminent Persons on Post 2015 Development Agenda. He will also submit the Panel`s final report to the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. The Fifth Meeting of the High Level of Eminent Persons on Post 2015 Development Agenda was the final one after the Panel held four previous meetings held in New York (September 2012), London, Britain (November 2012), Monrovia, Liberia (February 2013) and Bali, Indonesia (March 2012). After submitting the report, President Yudhoyono will also attend the UN General Assembly`s session to have briefing with regard to the results of the Panel`s work. Presidential Special Staff for International Affairs Teuku Faizasyah said earlier that the final meeting was the culmination of a long process of the drafting of the Panel`s report on the vision of the Post 2015 Development Agenda. "Like the MDGs, the post 2015 development agenda outlined in the panel`s report will become a reference for countries in setting the priorities of their development in the 15 to 20 years to come after 2015," he said. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has asked President Yudhoyono, British Prime Minister David Cameron and Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to co-chair the meeting which will discuss the post-2015 development agenda. During his stay in New York, President Yudhoyono will also receive a World Statesman Award from the Appeal of Conscience Foundation (AoCF) for his services in promoting democracy, contributing to the creation of more peaceful international order, and encouraging respect for human rights, freedom of religion and inter-civilization relations. President Yudhoyono and party, consisting among others, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalhi and Industry Minister MS Hidayat are scheduled to leave Now York on May 31, 2013.