Sudan wants improved ties with Indonesia

Sudan wants improved ties with Indonesia

Veeramalla Anjaiah and Ivy Susanti, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Sudan, Africa's largest country in terms of area, wants to
strengthen its relations in all aspects with Indonesia, which has
world's largest population of Muslims, Sudan's National Assembly
Speaker Ahmed Ibrahim El Tahir said in Jakarta at the end of his
visit to Indonesia.

"We have close relations with Indonesia and they have been
growing at a faster rate. I and my colleagues are very happy to
be here in this beautiful country. We had the honor to meet
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono today (Thursday). President
praised Sudan's role in helping tsunami victims in Aceh. It's a
reflection of our growing ties," Ahmed told The Jakarta Post and
the Kompas newspapers on Thursday night during a gathering at the
residence of Sudan's Ambassador to Indonesia Siddig Yousif Abu-
Agla.

Sudan, a country of 35 million people, recently donated a
plane-load of food, blankets, tents, medicine, ambulances and a
field hospital.

"Sudan is very much interested in participating in the
reconstruction of Aceh. We will help our brothers and sisters in
Aceh," Ambassador Siddig said.

Last year, a delegation of House of Representatives members
from Indonesia visited Sudan. Ahmed and his eight-member
parliamentary delegation came to Indonesia on a reciprocal visit
and returned home on Friday.

At the end of his four-day visit, Ahmed -- who arrived in
Jakarta on Tuesday -- had some warm words for his hosts.

"Wherever we go, our Indonesian brothers and sisters warmly
welcomed us. We met House of Representatives's Speaker Agung
Laksono, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Alwi Shihab
and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda and several other
leaders. We want to strengthen this bond further," Ahmed said.

The main purpose of the delegation was to learn more about
Indonesia's democratic institutions like the House, the election
commission, as well as to inform officials about the latest
situation in Sudan.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Marty Natalegawa said on
Friday that the Sudanese delegation and the Minister Hassan
discussed parliamentary relations between the countries and the
latest developments in Darfur.

Hassan, according to Marty, also expressed support for the
Sudanese government and the African Union efforts (to find a
solution to the Darfur problem) and updated the Sudan delegation
on the developments in Aceh.

Ahmed said the two countries were committed to respecting the
territorial integrity in both countries. Indonesia supported
Sudan's view that no non-African countries should intervene in
its domestic problems. Sudan has already welcomed the African
Union's role in solving Darfur problem.

In February 2002, then president Megawati Soekarnoputri
visited Khartoum and Sudan's Vice President Ali Osman Taha paid a
return visit to Jakarta in July 2002.

Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir's planned visit to
Indonesia in April this year will open a new chapter in bilateral
ties.

As a symbol of friendship, the two countries jointly
established the Indonesia-Sudan Friendship Islamic University in
Malang, East Java in 2002.

Sudan, a Muslim majority state like Indonesia, has given out
200 scholarships recently for Indonesian students to study in
Sudan.