Japan's foreign minister Komura presents 4.5 billion yen to RI
Japan's foreign minister Komura presents 4.5 billion yen to RI
JAKARTA (JP): Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura
presented on Tuesday a 3 billion (US$26 million) grant to help
the poor and another 1.45 billion to increase food production in
Indonesia.
Visiting Komura and his counterpart Ali Alatas signed the
nonproject aid at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Japanese Embassy said in a statement the 3 billion grant
was not linked to any specific projects, and it would be used to
support the vulnerable through foreign currency imports of daily
needs.
The grant for food production will be used to purchase
pesticides, fertilizer, rice mills, tractors and irrigation pumps
to accelerate the production of crops, especially rice.
"A friend in need is a friend indeed," Komura said after
meeting with Alatas, as quoted by Antara.
Japan will also soon send 400,000 metric tons of rice to
Indonesia. It has already sent 600,000 tons of the vital staple.
"The President told me that relations between Indonesia and
Japan are more than simply a friendship. We are more like a
family," Komura said after a meeting with President B.J. Habibie.
Japanese sources said during the meeting Komura raised his
government's views on the forthcoming Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) summit in Kuala Lumpur this month.
He explained to Habibie Japan's views on several tariff
liberalization issues including those concerning fishery and
forestry products, as proposed by Australia, U.S. and Canada.
"APEC is a forum for discussion and not decision-making, and
liberalization issues should be discussed at the World Trade
Organization (WTO)," said the source, who spoke on the condition
of anonymity.
The minister also met with Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto
and chairwoman of the splintered Indonesian Democratic Party
(PDI) Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Megawati refused to comment on her 50-minute meeting with the
minister. She only said she was invited to meet with Komura.
Komura had also been scheduled to meet with Nahdlatul Ulama
chairman Abdurrachman Wahid, also called Gus Dur, and chairman of
National Mandate Party (PAN) Amien Rais. The meetings were
canceled due to Abdurrahman's health condition and Amien's tight
schedules.
Komura left for Australia on Tuesday from where he will fly on
to New Zealand. (prb)