Belarusian President Stays at the State Palace, First for a Head of State Guest

JAKARTA - There is something different in the state visit of the President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko to Indonesia. For the first time, a guest head of state stayed at the State Palace.

Foreign Minister Sugiono said the decision was made because President Lukashenko wanted to spend the night at the palace complex during his state visit.

"This time he wants to be in the palace," Sugiono told reporters at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Thursday, July 2.

According to Sugiono, the government originally prepared Wisma Negara as a place to stay. However, President Prabowo Subianto considered the State Palace more representative to welcome his guests.

Sugiono confirmed that Lukashenko was the first president to stay at the State Palace.

He added that the last state guest to stay at the State Guest House was Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

President Lukashenko is in Indonesia on a reciprocal state visit after President Prabowo visited Belarus. The meeting of the two leaders will discuss strengthening bilateral relations, including the launch of a roadmap for cooperation in various sectors.