Soeharto to expand relations with Syria
Soeharto to expand relations with Syria
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and Syria agreed yesterday to expand
bilateral ties beyond simply political support for one another by
moving into economic and cultural fields.
A series of agreements were signed yesterday by officials of
the two countries, witnessed by President Soeharto and Syrian
Prime Minister Mahmoud Al-Zoubi.
During a meeting earlier, Al-Zoubi assured Soeharto of Syria's
recognition of East Timor's integration with Indonesia.
"Syria regards East Timor as an integral part of Indonesia,"
Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono quoted Al-Zoubi as telling
Soeharto.
Soeharto had reiterated Indonesia's support for the struggle
of Arab nations to regain their territories now occupied by
Israel, Moerdiono said, citing Syria's Golan Heights, Southern
Lebanon and the West Bank as examples.
The two leaders agreed to bolster trade and economic ties
because trade between Indonesia and Syria was still too small,
Moerdiono said.
Five agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed
yesterday. They were for the promotion and protection of
investment, the avoidance of double taxation, the establishment
of bilateral consultation, cooperation on information and
cooperation in tourism.
Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas signed for
Indonesia while Syria was represented by State Minister for
Foreign Affairs Naser Kaddour, Minister of Finance Moh. Khaled
Al-Mahayni and Minister of Economy and External Trade Mohammad
Al-Imadi.
Later in the day, another agreement was signed at the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs to regulate cultural exchange programs between
the two countries for the next three years.
The leaders also agreed to exchange visits of top government
officials and private entrepreneurs, according to Moerdiono.
Bank Indonesia Governor Soedradjad Djiwandono was planning to
send a team to Damascus soon to discuss banking cooperation to
help finance bilateral trade, he said.
Indonesian Ambassador to Syria Djamaris Suleman said that most
Indonesian companies were still reluctant to trade with Syria.
"Even the National Agency for Promotion of Exports has not put
Syria in its priority list," Djamaris said.
Al-Zoubi and Soeharto attended Friday prayers at the
Baiturrahim mosque inside the Presidential Palace compound.
This morning, Al-Zoubi will travel to Bandung, West Java, to
visit the plant of PT IPTN, the state aircraft manufacturer,
before proceeding to Bali where he will spend the weekend.
He will fly back to Damascus on Monday. (06)