PRESIDENT ASKS MINISTERS TO CONTINUE WORKING ENERGETICALLY

Jakarta, July 14 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked his cabinet ministers to continue performing their state duties in energetic manner.

Although their terms of office will come to an end next October, the head of state asked them to remain working energetically.

In remarks opening a plenary cabinet meeting at his office here on Tuesday to discuss the 2010 Draft State Budget (RAPBN 2010), the president even asked the ministers to speed up the completion of their remaining tasks with unflagging spirit.

"I hope your spirit and enthusiasm to complete the rest of your tasks does not wane. Even though your terms of office are coming to an end, you have to complete what you still have to do in high spirits," the president told the ministers.

Before all cabinet members and Vice President Jusuf Kalla, the president reminded them of their commitment to completing all their remaining duties before the end of their terms of office on October 20, 2009.

Yudhoyono also reiterated his commitment that with Vice President Jusuf Kalla, they would complete their tasks together before the end of their terms of office.

"Pak Jusuf Kalla and I will together bring to an end our tasks before our terms of office are over," Yudhoyono said.

The head of state admitted that during the presidential campaign period, he and Kalla competed by trading criticims and acrimony but after the election was over, they became friends again and worked together as president and vice president.

He also said several ministers including minister/state secretary Hatta Radjasa had been part of Yudhoyono's campaign team but now they had to be able to work together again with the other ministers to complete their tasks.

One of the tasks that had to be completed by United Indonesia Cabinet members, according to the head of state, was to complete the 2009 Draft State Budget.