Indonesia has confirmed that it will be represented at the APEC Leaders' meeting by a senior minister, Prime Minister Jenny Shipley said today.

"President Habibie contacted me last night to confirm that he will not attend the meeting, but that Indonesia would be represented by the Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industry, H.E. Mr Ginandjar Kartasasmita.

"Understandably, President Habibie is remaining in Indonesia at this time to deal with the issues surrounding East Timor, but I am pleased that Indonesia is still committed to the APEC process.

"By sending Mr Ginandjar, Indonesia sends a strong signal that it remains committed to the goals of APEC. I look forward to welcoming the Minister at the Leaders' meeting," said Mrs Shipley.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>