RI, Kyrgyzstan sign investment memo

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and Kyrgyzstan, a former state of the dissolved Soviet Union, signed a memorandum of understanding yesterday on the promotion and protection of investments.

Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono said that the agreement, signed here by Indonesia's Foreign Minister Ali Alatas and Kyrgyzstan's Acting Minister of Finance Nanayev Kemelbek Kasymkulovich, was one of the agreements reached during the official visit of Kyrgyzstan President Askar Akayev.

The signing of the agreement was witnessed by President Soeharto and President Akayev.

Moerdiono said that Alatas and his counterpart Mrs. Otunbayeva Roza Isakovna also signed a memorandum of understanding on the promotion of cooperation in air transportation and tourism.

He said that the agreements followed the signing of a joint declaration on the principles of relationship and cooperation between Indonesia and Kyrgyzstan by Soeharto and Akayev earlier in the morning.

Moerdiono said that the two heads of state held a tete-a-tete meeting yesterday morning to discuss prospects of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

He said that the two governments also agreed to study the possibility of sending Kyrgyzstan's diplomatic officials to study in Indonesia.

Akayev, who arrived here on Monday for a four-day visit, attended a state dinner at the State Palace last night.

Akayev is scheduled to tour the aircraft factory of the state- owned PT Industri Pesawat Terbang Nusantara (IPTN) in Bandung this morning before leaving Jakarta for Kuala Lumpur later in the afternoon. (hen)