Russia backs next year's Asia-Africa Summit
Russia backs next year's Asia-Africa Summit
Veeramalla Anjaiah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Russia has wholeheartedly welcomed Indonesia's efforts to revive
the Bandung spirit and hold a commemorative summit of the Asian-
African Conference in Jakarta and Bandung next year, the Russian
Ambassador to Indonesia said.
"Fifty years ago, we supported the holding of Bandung
conference to promote solidarity and cooperation among Asian and
African countries. It was this conference that led to the
establishment of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)," Ambassador
Mikhail Mikhailovich Bely said at a press conference in Jakarta
on Thursday.
Bely said NAM has been quite successful in the past and still
plays a positive role in international politics.
"If invited as an observer to the Asian-African Conference
next year in Jakarta, Russia is willing to send a high level
delegation to the meeting. We support the efforts of Indonesia to
promote cooperation between Asian and African states," Bely, who
submitted his credentials to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono on Nov. 25, said.
Indonesia will host the historic Asian-African Summit in
Jakarta and Bandung from April 21-23, 2005. More than 100
countries from Asia and Africa are expected to participate in the
biggest ever gathering of developing nations.
Indonesia and Russia enjoy cordial relations. Recently, both
countries' leaders -- SBY and Vladimir Putin -- met in Chile on
the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
meeting last month.
"President Yudhoyono and President Putin have mutually
extended invitations to visit each other's countries. President
Putin invited Yudhoyono to visit Russia and vice versa," Bely
said.
The ambassador also mentioned that the military ties between
Russia and Indonesia have improved a lot in recent years.
"In 2003, Indonesia bought our Sukhoi fighter planes and
helicopters. Our companies also participated in the recently held
Indonesian Defense Expo. Both sides are currently negotiating to
improve military cooperation between the countries. I see good
prospects for our relationship in this sector," Bely said.