Syrian PM due here to forge bilateral ties

JAKARTA (JP): Syrian Prime Minister Mahmoud Al-Zoubi and his entourage are due to arrive here today for a five-day visit to strengthen bilateral trade and other relations.

"The main purpose of this visit is to boost trade and economic ties, although the volume (of bilateral trade) is still very low," Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono said yesterday.

He announced the visit after meeting President Soeharto at the Bina Graha presidential office.

Al-Zoubi's entourage includes Foreign Minister Faruq el-Shara.

Only the first two days of the visit will be used for state matters. The other three days will be for informal matters.

"The Prime Minister's visit coincides with 50th anniversary of Syrian Arab Republic's recognition of Indonesia's independence," Moerdiono said.

Indonesia proclaimed its independence in 1945, and two years later Syria became the third country to recognize its independence.

The two countries are members of the Organization of Islamic Countries and the Non-Aligned Movement. Faruq el-Shara represented his government at a NAM summit in Jakarta five years ago.

President Soeharto will hold a banquet at the State Palace this evening for the Syrians.

Tomorrow morning the two heads of government are expected to hold bilateral talks to discuss regional and international affairs, including developments in the Middle East.

They will also witness the signing of three bilateral Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) and one agreement.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas and his counterpart, Faruq el-Shara, will sign the MOUs on regular bilateral consultation, tourism cooperation and the avoidance of double taxation. They will also sign an agreement on banking.

Indonesia's non-oil exports to Syria in 1996 were worth US$33.29 million, up 114.71 percent on US$15.50 million in non- oil exports in 1995.

Indonesia imported US$14.25 million of goods from Syria in 1996, down 11 percent from US$16.03 million in 1995.

Later this afternoon, the Syrian Prime Minister will meet members of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He is scheduled to visit the state-owned aircraft maker PT IPTN and light weapons and ammunition maker PT Pindad in Bandung on Saturday morning.

He is expected to fly to Bali on Saturday afternoon. He will stay there until Monday morning, when he departs for Damascus on a special flight. (06)