Sudan wants improved ties with Indonesia<\/p>\n
Veeramalla Anjaiah and Ivy Susanti, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Sudan, Africa's largest country in terms of area, wants to
\nstrengthen its relations in all aspects with Indonesia, which has
\nworld's largest population of Muslims, Sudan's National Assembly
\nSpeaker Ahmed Ibrahim El Tahir said in Jakarta at the end of his
\nvisit to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"We have close relations with Indonesia and they have been
\ngrowing at a faster rate. I and my colleagues are very happy to
\nbe here in this beautiful country. We had the honor to meet
\nPresident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono today (Thursday). President
\npraised Sudan's role in helping tsunami victims in Aceh. It's a
\nreflection of our growing ties," Ahmed told The Jakarta Post and
\nthe Kompas newspapers on Thursday night during a gathering at the
\nresidence of Sudan's Ambassador to Indonesia Siddig Yousif Abu-
\nAgla.<\/p>\n
Sudan, a country of 35 million people, recently donated a
\nplane-load of food, blankets, tents, medicine, ambulances and a
\nfield hospital.<\/p>\n
"Sudan is very much interested in participating in the
\nreconstruction of Aceh. We will help our brothers and sisters in
\nAceh," Ambassador Siddig said.<\/p>\n
Last year, a delegation of House of Representatives members
\nfrom Indonesia visited Sudan. Ahmed and his eight-member
\nparliamentary delegation came to Indonesia on a reciprocal visit
\nand returned home on Friday.<\/p>\n
At the end of his four-day visit, Ahmed -- who arrived in
\nJakarta on Tuesday -- had some warm words for his hosts.<\/p>\n
"Wherever we go, our Indonesian brothers and sisters warmly
\nwelcomed us. We met House of Representatives's Speaker Agung
\nLaksono, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Alwi Shihab
\nand Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda and several other
\nleaders. We want to strengthen this bond further," Ahmed said.<\/p>\n
The main purpose of the delegation was to learn more about
\nIndonesia's democratic institutions like the House, the election
\ncommission, as well as to inform officials about the latest
\nsituation in Sudan.<\/p>\n
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Marty Natalegawa said on
\nFriday that the Sudanese delegation and the Minister Hassan
\ndiscussed parliamentary relations between the countries and the
\nlatest developments in Darfur.<\/p>\n
Hassan, according to Marty, also expressed support for the
\nSudanese government and the African Union efforts (to find a
\nsolution to the Darfur problem) and updated the Sudan delegation
\non the developments in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Ahmed said the two countries were committed to respecting the
\nterritorial integrity in both countries. Indonesia supported
\nSudan's view that no non-African countries should intervene in
\nits domestic problems. Sudan has already welcomed the African
\nUnion's role in solving Darfur problem.<\/p>\n
In February 2002, then president Megawati Soekarnoputri
\nvisited Khartoum and Sudan's Vice President Ali Osman Taha paid a
\nreturn visit to Jakarta in July 2002.<\/p>\n
Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir's planned visit to
\nIndonesia in April this year will open a new chapter in bilateral
\nties.<\/p>\n
As a symbol of friendship, the two countries jointly
\nestablished the Indonesia-Sudan Friendship Islamic University in
\nMalang, East Java in 2002.<\/p>\n
Sudan, a Muslim majority state like Indonesia, has given out
\n200 scholarships recently for Indonesian students to study in
\nSudan.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sudan-wants-improved-ties-with-indonesia-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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