JAKARTA, Oct. 20, 2009 (Xinhua News Agency) -- Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was sworn in on Tuesday for his second term of 2009-2014 in a respect inauguration ceremony attended by several friendly head of states and foreign country special envoys.
Vice President Boediono was also sworn in the ceremony, which was chaired by the Upper House's chairman Taufik Kiemas and attended by 647 members of the institution.
It also attended by former President BJ Habibie, former Vice President (VP) Jusuf Kalla, and former VP Try Soetrisno.
Taufik Kiemas in his opening speech said that the inauguration was held amidst sad moment following earthquake that hit West Sumatra province on Sept. 30.
"We are together here amidst sad moment where our brothers in West Sumatra still live at emergency tents after the quake damaged their houses. Hopefully, God gives them strength," said Taufik.
Following the opening speech, an official from the General Elections Commission read the agency's ruling related to the result of the elections.
"We decided that the pair of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono achieved 73,874,562 votes or 60.80 percent of total 121,504,581 votes," said the official.
Taufik said that Indonesia is proud of having the presidential election successful, saying that the moment showed the world that the country managed to hold the event democratically.
"We hope that Indonesia will be better in the future," he said.
He also welcomed several heads of state and special envoys from other countries.
"We would like to welcome Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah from Brunei, President Jose Ramos Horta from Timor-Leste, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Australian Minister Kevin Rudd, Malaysian Prime Minister M Najib Tun Abdul Razak as well as special envoys from friendly countries," said Taufik.
China sent Ambassador for Indonesia Zhang Qiuye to attend the ceremony. Other special envoys were from New Zealand, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the United States.
As part of the inauguration ceremony, Yudhoyono and Boediono took oaths as president and vice president.
"As the elect-president in the presidential election on 2009 based on the General Election Commission's ruling, I will take an oath before I do my job as the head of state in front of members of the Upper House. And, I will take the oath as a Muslim," said Yudhoyono.
"For God's sake, I swear that I will do my jobs as best and fair as possible. I will strongly conduct mandate from the 1945 Constitution and other rules and I will be loyal to the nation and the country," said Yudhoyono.
The oath was followed by Vice President Boediono with the same sentences.
After taking the oath, the two leaders signed an official report of the inauguration.
Taufik said that the pairs had won people's hearts and mandate to lead the country.
