Developing nations must master technology: Soeharto<\/p>\n
By Kornelius Purba<\/p>\n
ISTANBUL (JP): President Soeharto said here yesterday that
\ndeveloping countries were struggling to master sophisticated
\ntechnology, and this could only be done through hard work and
\nintensified cooperation between themselves.<\/p>\n
In a bilateral meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Necmettin
\nErbakan here yesterday, Soeharto said he hoped today's summit of
\neight predominantly Islamic developing countries, known as D-8,
\nwould strengthen their position in the coming free trade era.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said closer cooperation between developing countries
\nwould strengthen their position, even though their technology was
\nnot as sophisticated as industrial countries'.<\/p>\n
\"When the eight countries combine their capabilities and
\npotential they will be much stronger,\" Soeharto told Erbakan
\naccording to Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono.<\/p>\n
Soeharto met with Erbakan at his Ciragan Kempinski Hotel
\nsuite.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto arrived in the tourist city of Istanbul
\nyesterday, to attend the first D-8 summit today.<\/p>\n
The one-day summit will be chaired by Turkish President
\nSuleyman Demirel amidst political uncertainty here. It is thought
\nthat Erbakan will not be able to resist mounting demands for his
\nresignation following prolonged tension with the military.<\/p>\n
The summit's participants include President Soeharto,
\nBangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Egyptian Prime
\nMinister Kamal El Ganzouri, outgoing Iranian President Ali Akbar
\nHashemi Rafsanjani, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad,
\nPakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Nigerian Minister of
\nIndustry Mohammed Halladu.<\/p>\n
Today's summit will issue a declaration, and all the heads of
\ngovernment\/state will attend a joint press conference. Soeharto
\nwill fly back to Jakarta in the evening.<\/p>\n
In yesterday's meeting, neither Soeharto nor Erbakan touched
\nthe issue of Erbakan's possible departure from government.<\/p>\n
\"Erbakan did not raise the issue, and as a guest the President
\nalso did not touch it,\" Moerdiono said.<\/p>\n
Close<\/p>\n
But Soeharto said he hoped the countries' bilateral
\nrelationship would remain close.<\/p>\n
Turkey's exports to Indonesia were only US$32.4 million in
\n1995, while its imports from Indonesia were US$132 million.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto also met with Nawaz Sharif, they agreed to
\nboost trade relations.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's Ambassador-at-large Nana Sutresna said the summit
\nwould give Indonesia the job of overseeing human resource
\ndevelopment issues.<\/p>\n
\"We will hold workshops on poverty alleviation soon,\" Nana
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Turkey will be responsible for producing small aircraft for
\nagriculture. Iran will be responsible for establishing joint
\nexport marketing. Pakistan will be responsible for fisheries.<\/p>\n
\"We want this group to carry out small but visible projects
\nthat will directly benefit the people,\" said Nana.<\/p>\n
While the heads of state were holding bilateral talks, D-8
\nministers also met, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Ali
\nAlatas.<\/p>\n
He said the ministers had agreed to set up six projects. A
\nrural development project will be overseen by Bangladesh, trade
\nby Egypt, poverty alleviation by Indonesia, science and
\ntechnology by Iran, finance and banking by Malaysia and energy
\ndevelopment by Nigeria.<\/p>\n
Soeharto rejected suggestions for Indonesia to host the next
\nsummit in 1998, because the country would be tied up with the
\nGeneral Assembly of the People's Consultative Assembly, the
\npresidential election and the establishment of a new cabinet.<\/p>\n
Bangladesh has agreed to host the next summit.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/developing-nations-must-master-technology-soeharto-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }