Megawati in Algeria

Megawati in Algeria

Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri was to arrive Thursday in Algeria on a state visit focusing on commercial ties and cooperation in fighting terrorism and in improving the image of Islam, battered by local insurgences and the Sept. 11 terror attacks in the United States.

It was the first state visit to this North African nation by an Indonesian leader despite more than a dozen bilateral accords signed over the last decade and annual trade of US$500 million.

During Megawati's visit, which ends on Sunday, an important accord was expected to be signed between Algeria's state-run oil company Sonatrach and Indonesia's Pertamina.

Megawati, who assumed the presidency of the world's most populous Muslim nation a year ago, was to meet with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and travel on Friday to Annaba, 600 kilometers (about 375 miles) east of the capital, with the Algerian leader.

Talks also were to center on strengthening cooperation in the domain of religion, in particular aimed at improving the image of Islam as a religion of peace, tolerance and respect for human dignity, Algeria's Foreign Ministry said.

Both countries are fighting Islamic extremists, whose bloody rebellions have tarnished the image of Islam. The "phenomenon of terrorism" was to rank high on the official agenda, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Indonesia and Algeria signed a memorandum of understanding in 1995 that provides for the exchange of ulemas, or religious sages, organizing joint seminars and other measures to increase cooperation in the religious domain. The accord was likely to be the basis for further cooperation. -- AP