Igor Ivanov to hold negotiations with Indonesian Foreign Minister Hasan Wirayuda

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov will hold negotiations with his Indonesian counterpart Hasan Wirayuda who arrived in Russia for an official visit on Wednesday. This information was provided by the foreign ministry's press and information department. The two ministers are expected to sign a memorandum on mutual understanding between the Russian and Indonesian foreign ministries and on bilateral consultations after the negotiations. The first session of the joint Russian-Indonesian commission on trade, economic and technical cooperation will be held during Wirayuda's stay in Moscow.

Shortly before the Indonesian foreign minister's visit to Russia, official representative of the Russian foreign ministry Alexander Yakovenko declared in an interview with RIA Novosti that the central theme at the forthcoming negotiations of the two countries' foreign ministers "will be the struggle against international terrorism and answers to other global challenges." The Russian diplomat believes that the sides will also discuss such problems as the strengthening of the world peace, international and regional security, and disarmament. Yakovenko also pointed out that "an accent will be made on the importance of consolidating multilateral regimes of the non-proliferation of mass destruction weapons, the Middle East settlement, the situation in Afghanistan and around Iraq, as well as in other hot spots, and the reform of the UN Security Council.

"The priority attention will be paid to the situation in the Asia-Pacific region, closer cooperation between Russia and ASEAN and the ASEAN Regional Forum," Yakovenko pointed out. He also stressed that in the course of negotiations "the sides will discuss issues of our collaboration within the framework of APEC." Russia "expresses its readiness for a constructive cooperation in the working bodies and programmes of this Forum," the diplomat stated.

Shortly before the Indonesian foreign minister's visit it was pointed out in Moscow that "progress has been made in the Russian-Indonesian military and military-technical cooperation." In particular, the foreign ministry stated, "the Russian draft framework agreement on military-technical cooperation was submitted for consideration of the Indonesian side. The draft is to replace the corresponding memorandum signed in 1996.