February 19, 2000 
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| February 19, 2000 | atimes.com | |
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| Southeast Asia Iran seeks closer economic ties with Jakarta JAKARTA - Iran will continue its economic ties with Indonesia despite Indonesia's intention to establish economic relations with Israel. ''We have had very good relations with Indonesia and we will continue these relations with the predominantly Muslim country,'' Iran's Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi told a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday at the end of a two-day visit. Iran, he said, has no intention to mix its foreign policies toward Israel and Indonesia. On Israel, Iran maintains its attitude of condemning atrocities committed by Israel and its occupation of Arab lands in the Middle East. ''But we will continue to develop our economic relations with Indonesia,'' he reiterated. In 1998, the balance of trade between Iran and Indonesia was worth US$177 million. ''This figure is very low. Therefore, Iran and Indonesia need to boost their economic cooperation,'' Kharrazi said. During his visit, Kharrazi met President Abdurrahman Wahid, Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri, Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab, Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly Amien Rais, Speaker of the House of Representatives Akbar Tanjung, and executives of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Earlier, Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab said the two countries will encourage their private sectors to develop trade ties. ''Trade delegations from Iran as well as from the Gulf countries will come here in April to form closer economic relations,'' Shihab said. (Asia Pulse/ANTARA) | |||||||||
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