Developing nations must master technology: Soeharto

Developing nations must master technology: Soeharto

By Kornelius Purba

ISTANBUL (JP): President Soeharto said here yesterday that
developing countries were struggling to master sophisticated
technology, and this could only be done through hard work and
intensified cooperation between themselves.

In a bilateral meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Necmettin
Erbakan here yesterday, Soeharto said he hoped today's summit of
eight predominantly Islamic developing countries, known as D-8,
would strengthen their position in the coming free trade era.

Soeharto said closer cooperation between developing countries
would strengthen their position, even though their technology was
not as sophisticated as industrial countries'.

"When the eight countries combine their capabilities and
potential they will be much stronger," Soeharto told Erbakan
according to Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono.

Soeharto met with Erbakan at his Ciragan Kempinski Hotel
suite.

President Soeharto arrived in the tourist city of Istanbul
yesterday, to attend the first D-8 summit today.

The one-day summit will be chaired by Turkish President
Suleyman Demirel amidst political uncertainty here. It is thought
that Erbakan will not be able to resist mounting demands for his
resignation following prolonged tension with the military.

The summit's participants include President Soeharto,
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Egyptian Prime
Minister Kamal El Ganzouri, outgoing Iranian President Ali Akbar
Hashemi Rafsanjani, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad,
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Nigerian Minister of
Industry Mohammed Halladu.

Today's summit will issue a declaration, and all the heads of
government/state will attend a joint press conference. Soeharto
will fly back to Jakarta in the evening.

In yesterday's meeting, neither Soeharto nor Erbakan touched
the issue of Erbakan's possible departure from government.

"Erbakan did not raise the issue, and as a guest the President
also did not touch it," Moerdiono said.

Close

But Soeharto said he hoped the countries' bilateral
relationship would remain close.

Turkey's exports to Indonesia were only US$32.4 million in
1995, while its imports from Indonesia were US$132 million.

President Soeharto also met with Nawaz Sharif, they agreed to
boost trade relations.

Indonesia's Ambassador-at-large Nana Sutresna said the summit
would give Indonesia the job of overseeing human resource
development issues.

"We will hold workshops on poverty alleviation soon," Nana
said.

Turkey will be responsible for producing small aircraft for
agriculture. Iran will be responsible for establishing joint
export marketing. Pakistan will be responsible for fisheries.

"We want this group to carry out small but visible projects
that will directly benefit the people," said Nana.

While the heads of state were holding bilateral talks, D-8
ministers also met, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Ali
Alatas.

He said the ministers had agreed to set up six projects. A
rural development project will be overseen by Bangladesh, trade
by Egypt, poverty alleviation by Indonesia, science and
technology by Iran, finance and banking by Malaysia and energy
development by Nigeria.

Soeharto rejected suggestions for Indonesia to host the next
summit in 1998, because the country would be tied up with the
General Assembly of the People's Consultative Assembly, the
presidential election and the establishment of a new cabinet.

Bangladesh has agreed to host the next summit.