Italian foreign minister arrives today
Italian foreign minister arrives today
JAKARTA (JP): Italian Foreign Minister Susanna Agnelli is
slated to arrive today to begin a two-day visit to promote
bilateral ties and discuss preparations for an Asia-Europe summit
planned in Bangkok next year.
During her stay, Agnelli is scheduled to pay a courtesy call
on President Soeharto tomorrow morning which will be followed by
talks with her Indonesian counterpart, Ali Alatas.
"The visit is a sign of attention from the minister on the
occasion of Indonesia's 50th anniversary of independence,"
Italian Ambassador Mario Pensa told The Jakarta Post yesterday.
He added that the two foreign ministers will also discuss the
Asia-Europe Summit in Thailand next year.
"The foreign minister would like to have talks with Minister
Alatas on preparations for the Asia-Europe Summit, which will
take place when Italy is chairman of the European Union," Pensa
explained.
The ambassador added that discussions will also touch on
current issues, particularly the recent events in Bosnia
Herzegovina and the plan to restructure the United Nations.
Italy was admitted last year as an observer to the 112-nation
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), which Indonesia currently presides,
and sent its permanent representative to the United Nations, F.
Paolo Fulci, to attend a NAM ministerial meeting in Bandung, West
Java.
During the meeting, Fulci expressed support for the NAM's
proposal for expanding the UN Security Council.
To enhance bilateral relations, Agnelli and Alatas will also
exchange documents for the implementation of an agreement on the
avoidance of double taxation, at the foreign ministry building on
Jl. Pejambon, Central Jakarta.
The agreement is aimed at further boosting trade and economic
relations between Italy and Indonesia.
During her visit, Agnelli is accompanied by an entourage which
includes Vice-Director General for Economic Affairs Gian Paolo
Cavarai and head of the ministry's cabinet, Giancarlo Aragona.
She is scheduled to leave Indonesia tomorrow evening, to continue
her trip to Beijing to attend the UN Conference on Women. (mds)