Rafsanjani asks Indonesia to buy more Iranian oil
Rafsanjani asks Indonesia to buy more Iranian oil
JAKARTA (JP): Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
on Saturday called on Indonesia to buy more oil from his country
while at the same time hinting that Iran may purchase helicopters
from the IPTN state-aircraft manufacturer.
Following a farewell meeting between President Soeharto and
Rafsanjani at Merdeka Palace, Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono
told journalists that the Iranian president's call for increased
oil purchases is aimed at accenting bilateral trade.
It is not because Iran has difficulty marketing its oil,
Moerdiono said.
Indonesia imports an average of 30,000 barrels of crude oil
per day from Iran.
Despite being an oil producing nation itself, the vast demands
of industrialization are expected to make Indonesia a net-oil
importer by the first decade of the next century.
Meanwhile, Rafsanjani, when confronted by questions on the
possible acquisition of Indonesian made helicopters, gave an
indefinite hope in his answer.
"If we study that they are useful then there shall be further
purchases to be done," said the Iranian president who a day
earlier had visited the IPTN factory in Bandung.
Last year Iran bought seven Indonesian-made Super Puma
helicopters.
"We have designated quite clear areas for cooperation between
the two countries and we do hope that after this visit we will
witness more activity and motivation," Rafsanjani said.
Rafsanjani left Jakarta on Saturday after a three-day visit
with an entourage of 127 people which included his wife,
daughter, four cabinet ministers and 35 security personnel.
During his brief stay here, Rafsanjani engaged in extensive
talks aimed at improving political and economic ties.
Coming out of a closed meeting with Rafsanjani on Friday,
Soeharto instructed his ministers to form a special group aimed
at realizing investment and trade opportunities with Iran as a
gateway to the Central Asian market.
Bosnia
Though the visit mainly focused on economics, Rafsanjani and
Soeharto released a joint statement Saturday filled with
politically oriented issues.
They expressed deep concern over the deplorable situation in
Bosnia-Herzegovina and called for an immediate restoration of its
political integrity.
"(Indonesia and Iran) call on the United Nations Security
Council to take appropriate action, including lifting of the
unjustified arms embargo against Bosnia-Herzegovina."
Reviewing developments in the Middle East, the joint statement
also lamented the situation and stressed that stability in that
region would not be successful without fully restoring the
Palestinian's rights.
Commenting on the declining price of oil on the world market,
Rafsanjani said that Indonesia and Iran, as members of the
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), should
collaborate further to stop the price slide.
He said that at the OPEC Ministerial Meeting in Bali next
month, the organization must not agree to any unnecessary
increase in oil production in order to help boost market prices.
Before departing for Brunei, Rafsanjani met with the
Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) headed by KH Hasan Basri.
The hour-long meeting with Hasan Basri, who was accompanied by
19 ulemas, focused on several issues including the challenges
facing the Islamic world in Bosnia and Kashmir.
Rafsanjani is due to arrive in Kuala Lumpur today for the
final leg of his three-nation tour.(mds)