Bali Gearing Up for Obama Visit

Indonesian Security Measures Gearing Up in Anticipation of East Asia Summit and Visit by U.S. President Barack Obama

Bali News: Bali Gearing Up for Obama Visit

(9/16/2011)

The White House has confirmed that plans are moving ahead to welcome U.S. President Barack Obama to Bali in mid-November.

Obama will travel from Washington, D.C. to his home state of Hawaii where he will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit. From Hawaii he will visit Australia on November 16-17, 2011, before flying to Bali to participate in the East Asia summit.

The head of the Kodam IX/Udayana military command headquartered in Bali has confirmed his readiness to cooperate with the presidential security detail to ensure a safe visit.

The assurances were offered by Lt. Col Arm. Wing Handoko in a meeting with the press on Tuesday, September 13, 2011.

He was accompanied by Kol. Arm. Winarto, an intelligence officer, who said: “Kodam is prepared to protect VVIPs at the conference which will be attended by many nations. We have already coordinated with the Armed Forces Headquarters.”

In anticipation of the November visit, the Udayana Military Command will undertake joint exercises to be at the highest level of preparedness for the prestigious visit.

Coordination is also underway with the United States Secret Service. The ultimate responsibility for matters related to the safety of the visiting heads of state rests with the National Command of the Indonesian Armed Forces and the Indonesian Presidential Security Detail.

Handoko told Beritabali.com that the threat of terrorism is included on the list of security concerns, but affirmed that Bali remains safe from all forms of terrorism.

Source: Bali Discovery