FM OSKANIAN MEETS WITH VICE-PRESIDENT AND FM OF INDONESIA IN JAKARTA

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 12 2005

JAKARTA, OCTOBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA Foreing Minister
Vartan Oskanian’s visit to countries of the South-Eastern Asia and
Pacific Ocean is in process. After Australia, the Foreign Minister
paid an official visit to Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia where on
October 12 he had official meetings with the Vice-President and the
Minister of Foreign Affairs of that greatest Islamic country with
the population of 245 mln people. This is the first official visit
of the Foreign Minister and in general of a high-ranking Armenian
delegation to Indonesia.

At the meeting with Pak Hassan Wirajuda, the Foreign Minister of
Indonesia, Oskanian expressed condolence on the occasion of victims
and ravages of Bali bombing hoping that this will never repeat.

During the exchange of ideas promoted then, the sides discussed
possibilities of development of bilateral relations, implementation
of concrete programs especially in the sphere of economy.

Regional problems, particularly ways of settlement of present conflicts
were also touched upon. The Foreign Minister of Indonesia presented
details concerning an agreement signed receintly on settlement of the
Aceh conflict and its further implementation. In his turn, Minister
Oskanian presented his partner of Indonesia the process of settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, emphasizing that the conflict isn’t
of a religious character but this is only the display of the Nagorno
Karabakh people’s right to self-determination.

In the context of these issues, the sides came to agreement on
continuing cooperation established between the two countries within
the framework of international organizations, particularly the UN.

At the end of the meeting, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs signed
an interstate agreement on avoiding double taxes and a memorandum
of mutual understanding concerning creation of a consulting forum
between the Governments.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Information
and Press Deparment, on the same day, Jusuf Kalla, the Vice-President
of Indonesia received Vartan Oskanian. During the conversation,
the Foreign Minister presented briefly the social-economic state
of Armenia, prospects of development, the most important issues of
foreign policy connected with the security problems and prospects of
development of the region. The Minister expressed Armenia’s readiness
to promote an active bilateral cooperation with Indonesia as well as
one within the framework of international organizations.

On October 13, Minister Oskanian will leave for Singapore where he will
have a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of that country.