SOME NATIONAL FIGURES TO ATTEND PDIP CONFERENCE

Semarang, Jan 24 (ANTARA) - Several national figures have confirmed their intention to attend the national conference of the Indonesia Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP) to be held in Solo, Central Java, on January 26 to 29.

The secretary of the Central Java PDIP regional executive board, Nuniek Sriyuningsih, said here on Saturday some figures had been invited and would likely come including former Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tanjung, Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X and the chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Hidayat Nurwahid.

"Sri Sultan who was initially reported unable to come has confirmed that he will come," she said.

Nuniek who is one of the organizing committee members said participants from 33 provinces in the country had confirmed to come to the meeting that would be held at Hotel Sunan.

"There are around 1,300 participants from across the country that would come," she said.

She said all star-rated hotels in the town had been booked for their accommodation.

Regarding the issues to be discussed at the meeting Nuniek said they were among others target of vote collection in the legislative elections next April, future party's ideology for struggle and criteria for the party's vice presidential candidate to accompany party general chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri who had been named the party's presidential candidate.

"The meeting will not discuss who will be the party's vice presidential candidate but only determine the criteria for the candidacy," he said.

The chairman of the Central Java PDIP regional executive board, Murdoko, said the party's vice presidential candidate must meet a number of requirements.

He said the candidate must be popular, able to raise vote collection in the presidential election which will be held in July and can cooperate with the presidential candidate.