Indonesia to Hold General Election as per Schedule: MPR Chief

Jakarta (Antara) - The Indonesian general elections 2014 will be held as per schedule, Chairman of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Taufiq Kiemas assured an Australian parliamentarian delegation. "We have agreed to abide by the democracy schedule. I think the important is that all parliamentarian members stick to the schedule. The general elections will be held in 2014," Kiemas said when receiving the Australian legislators here on Monday. The six-member delegation led by Alex Galladh and Kiemas who was accompanied by among others MPR Deputy Chairman Hajriyanto Y Thohasi, discussed about the bilateral ties between the two countries in various fields. They also talked about the democracy developments in Indonesia and election predictions 2014. "Hopefully the general elections 2014 will be better because it will also affect neighboring countries such as Australia," Kiemas added. Despite some obstacles, democracy must go on and be improved continuously, he added. Alex Galladh said the Australian people feel close to Indonesia and therefore whatever is happening in Indonesia it will have effect on Australia. Australia also considers Indonesia as a strong democratic nation, he added. Kiemas and Galladh also discussed about the bilateral relations in eduction, trade and socio-culture fields. (*)