Bosnia and Herzegovina FM to visit RI

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Minister of Foreign affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Mladen Ivanic will arrive in Jakarta on Tuesday for talks on bilateral issues, Bosnia and Herzegovina's Ambassador to Indonesia said in Jakarta.

"Ivanic -- accompanied by Natasa Zirojevic, Chief of the Cabinet of the Minister, Milan Lovric, president of the country's foreign trade chamber and Ibrahim Efendic, head of the Asia and Africa department -- will meet President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono," Ambassador Zdravko Rajic said in a statement sent to The Jakarta Post on Monday.

During his three-day visit, Ivanic, a journalist turned politician, will hold bilateral talks with his Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirayuda.

The issues to be discussed during the talks include, the preparation of the establishment of a joint committee for the implementation of the trade agreement and efforts to promote bilateral cooperation.

The two ministers also were planning discuss the possibility of opening the Indonesian embassy in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the statement said.

Indonesia recognized Bosnia and Herzegovina on May 20, 1992, just after its separation from the then Yugoslavia and established diplomatic relations at the level of the ambassador in 1994.

Indonesian Ambassador to Hungary Sapartini Singgih Kuntjoro Jakti is also representing Indonesia in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country of about four million people with a GDP (gross domestic product) of 6.1 billion euros.

The ministers also plan to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of bilateral consultations between the two countries.

Indonesia has also played a role in helping to bring about peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Jakarta sent 40 police officers as part of a UN mission to Bosnia as part of the International Police Task Force.

President Susilo was Chief Military Observer of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina in November 1995.

The two countries' chambers of commerce are also expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to improve trade relations.

"For the period January 2003 to October 2003, Indonesia's exports to Bosnia and Herzegovina reached 313,555 euros and imports from Bosnia and Herzegovina about 46,388, euros," Embassy's deputy chief of the mission Nebojsa Regoje told the Post.

Indonesia's largely exports cacao, furniture, wheat and wheat products, wood and carpets, and imports electrical-related products, machines and mechanical equipment, Regoje said.