Gul begins historic Indonesia visit

President Abdullah Gul arrived yesterday in Jakarta for a visit at the invitation of his Indonesian counterpart Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Gul's visit, his first as president, began with his arrival accompanied by a large group of bureaucrats and businessmen. Gul was met at the airport by Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, Turkey's Ambassador to Jakarta Murat Adali, and representatives of Turkish civil groups in Indonesia. Gul later laid a wreath at the Kalibata National Heroes Cemetery and visited Istiqlal Mosque, the largest in the world. In the evening, Gul attended a dinner hosted by Adali in his honor. Gul will be meeting Yudhoyono following an official welcoming ceremony today. He is also expected to visit the Kharisma Turkish School, take part in a conference at the University of Indonesia about the recent uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa, and be interviewed on state television.