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)