Indonesia and Turkey agree to step up ties
Indonesia and Turkey agree to step up ties
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and Turkey have agreed to forge closer
economic and political ties by strengthening contacts at all
tiers of government and society.
Indonesia's President Soeharto and Turkish President Suleyman
Demirel decided during a meeting at Merdeka Palace on Tuesday
that closer contact was necessary to improve ties between the two
countries.
"The two leaders agreed to increase mutual association at the
highest levels of government, ministerial level, senior officials
level to an even wider scope," Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono
said after the meeting.
"It was also agreed that visits and contacts should also be
encouraged between the respective parliaments and also there
should be more cultural exchanges," he added.
President Demirel left yesterday morning after a three-day
state visit. Accompanying him was his wife and an entourage which
included a minister, several senior officials and a delegation of
35 businessmen.
The two-presidents agreed to instruct their ministers to
expedite the conclusion of agreements on the protection of
investments and avoidance of double taxation.
"This will be important in promoting economic and trade
relations between the two sides," Moerdiono said.
Indonesia presently has investment protection agreements with
25 countries and avoidance of double taxation agreements with 30
countries.
According to Moerdiono, Demirel saw tremendous potential for
economic relations because Turkey is a trade gateway to Central
Asia and Indonesia a gateway to the Asia-Pacific.
Moerdiono further reported that Demirel congratulated
Indonesia on its golden anniversary and praised the tremendous
developments the country has achieved.
Demirel remarked that 50-years is a relatively short period of
time but the developments achieved have been tremendous.
"This can be an example to other countries that are
developing," Demirel said as quoted by Moerdiono.
Also on Tuesday, Moerdiono said that President Soeharto had
expressed concern about the earthquake in Sakhalin, Russia.
"The President has decided to send aid to the victims of the
disaster," he said, adding that exactly how Indonesia would help
was still being studied. (mds)