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)