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Serbia seeks to forge strategic partnership with RI
Yohanna Ririhena, The Jakarta Post
Media visit: The Jakarta Post’s chief editor, Meidyatama Suryodiningrat (left), welcomes Serbian National Assembly Speaker Nebosja Stefanovic during a Serbian parliament delegation visit to the Post in Palmerah, Jakarta on Tuesday. (JP/R.Berto Wedhatama)
Serbia is exploring opportunities to forge strategic partnerships with Indonesia, with a visiting lawmaker saying that the two countries can serve as hubs for their respective regions.
“We are very interested in a strategic partnership and we are trying to open the door to Indonesian investors,” Serbian National Assembly Speaker Nebosja Stefanovic said during the visit of a delegation from the Serbian parliament to The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
Serbia is trying to open direct trade links, as it is in need of Indonesian palm oil, rubber and tea, which it has to date purchased through Rotterdam, the Netherlands. “It is more expensive. Why should we pay double prices?”
He added that Serbia, with a potential market of 8 million, could also serve as a hub for Indonesia as it seeks to penetrate the wider European market.
Serbia hoped to boost cooperation mainly in agriculture, energy and tourism, according to Stefanovic, who said that Indonesian tourists arriving in Istanbul, Turkey, could connect to Belgrade-Montenegro-Ljubljana-Bosnia.
Stefanovic also referred to the close ties between Indonesia and Serbia when president Soekarno and Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito initiated the Non-Aligned Movement.
“Indonesia stood by us in the difficult times. Therefore, we should try to find our old friends,” he added.
Stefanovic described Serbia as a nation of several religions, where people of different beliefs lived side by side and where minorities held positions in government and parliament.
Serbia has been attempting to drum up support for its stance on Kosovo. “We are trying to explain that the issue is not about religion,” Stefanovic said.
Serbia’s continued refusal to recognize Kosovo’s independence has undermined Serbia’s path to join the EU. The nation submitted an application to join the EU in 2009. However, the talks on its accession can only start after Serbia normalizes ties with Kosovo.
There were signs of movement earlier this year when Serbia hinted at a de facto acknowledgement of Kosovo’s sovereignty by demanding rights for the Serbian minority there.
“We are trying very hard to find a solution to this issue. The good thing is that we have a good understanding within our society,” Stefanovic added.
During his four-day visit, Stefanovic met with House of Representatives Speaker Marzuki Alie, People’s Consultative Assembly Speaker Taufiq Kiemas, chairman of the Regional Representatives Council Irman Gusman and several ministers.
Indonesia-Serbian legislative bodies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to increase cooperation and exchange experiences in making effective laws.
Bilateral Praise as Tony Blair Stops by Jakarta
Jakarta Globe | March 21, 2013
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, left, is greeted by Indonesia\'s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Jakarta on Wednesday. (EPA Photo/Mast Irham)
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met with former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair at the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday to discuss ways to strengthen ties between the two countries.
In his address, Yudhoyono said thateven after ending his term as prime minister, Blair had made a significant contribution to world peace and many other global issues.
“I have been following your hard work and contribution to the world, more specifically to the Middle East and the issue of climate change, development issues and others. I hope that [Indonesia and the UK] can continue to make our contribution to the security and prosperity of the world,” the president said.
Yudhoyono told Blair he hoped his country was also monitoring the developments and challenges Indonesia faced.
“I would like to hear your view on ways to increase our partnership,” he told Blair.
Blair praised Yudhoyono on his visit to Britain in October and Indonesia’s achievement in maintaining a strong economy. “I heard that Indonesia’s economic growth reached 6.2 percent. Even Europe could not achieve this,” he said.
Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron and Yudhoyono signed a string of agreements on trade, defense and education during the latter’s visit to London.
They also announced a 7.5 billion pound ($12.1 billion) deal for BP to develop liquid natural gas in Indonesia, and signed an agreement strengthening links between the two countries’ universities.
Following the October visit, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro met with his British counterpart, Philip Hammond, in Jakarta and days later Indonesia sent a team to London to negotiate the purchase of warships from Britain
Hammond told the Financial Times recently that he was hopeful defense sales could form a key part of last year’s pledge by Cameron and Yudhoyono to double bilateral trade by 2015.
Yohanna Ririhena, The Jakarta Post
Media visit: The Jakarta Post’s chief editor, Meidyatama Suryodiningrat (left), welcomes Serbian National Assembly Speaker Nebosja Stefanovic during a Serbian parliament delegation visit to the Post in Palmerah, Jakarta on Tuesday. (JP/R.Berto Wedhatama)
Serbia is exploring opportunities to forge strategic partnerships with Indonesia, with a visiting lawmaker saying that the two countries can serve as hubs for their respective regions.
“We are very interested in a strategic partnership and we are trying to open the door to Indonesian investors,” Serbian National Assembly Speaker Nebosja Stefanovic said during the visit of a delegation from the Serbian parliament to The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
Serbia is trying to open direct trade links, as it is in need of Indonesian palm oil, rubber and tea, which it has to date purchased through Rotterdam, the Netherlands. “It is more expensive. Why should we pay double prices?”
He added that Serbia, with a potential market of 8 million, could also serve as a hub for Indonesia as it seeks to penetrate the wider European market.
Serbia hoped to boost cooperation mainly in agriculture, energy and tourism, according to Stefanovic, who said that Indonesian tourists arriving in Istanbul, Turkey, could connect to Belgrade-Montenegro-Ljubljana-Bosnia.
Stefanovic also referred to the close ties between Indonesia and Serbia when president Soekarno and Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito initiated the Non-Aligned Movement.
“Indonesia stood by us in the difficult times. Therefore, we should try to find our old friends,” he added.
Stefanovic described Serbia as a nation of several religions, where people of different beliefs lived side by side and where minorities held positions in government and parliament.
Serbia has been attempting to drum up support for its stance on Kosovo. “We are trying to explain that the issue is not about religion,” Stefanovic said.
Serbia’s continued refusal to recognize Kosovo’s independence has undermined Serbia’s path to join the EU. The nation submitted an application to join the EU in 2009. However, the talks on its accession can only start after Serbia normalizes ties with Kosovo.
There were signs of movement earlier this year when Serbia hinted at a de facto acknowledgement of Kosovo’s sovereignty by demanding rights for the Serbian minority there.
“We are trying very hard to find a solution to this issue. The good thing is that we have a good understanding within our society,” Stefanovic added.
During his four-day visit, Stefanovic met with House of Representatives Speaker Marzuki Alie, People’s Consultative Assembly Speaker Taufiq Kiemas, chairman of the Regional Representatives Council Irman Gusman and several ministers.
Indonesia-Serbian legislative bodies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to increase cooperation and exchange experiences in making effective laws.
Bilateral Praise as Tony Blair Stops by Jakarta
Jakarta Globe | March 21, 2013
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, left, is greeted by Indonesia\'s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Jakarta on Wednesday. (EPA Photo/Mast Irham)
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met with former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair at the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday to discuss ways to strengthen ties between the two countries.
In his address, Yudhoyono said thateven after ending his term as prime minister, Blair had made a significant contribution to world peace and many other global issues.
“I have been following your hard work and contribution to the world, more specifically to the Middle East and the issue of climate change, development issues and others. I hope that [Indonesia and the UK] can continue to make our contribution to the security and prosperity of the world,” the president said.
Yudhoyono told Blair he hoped his country was also monitoring the developments and challenges Indonesia faced.
“I would like to hear your view on ways to increase our partnership,” he told Blair.
Blair praised Yudhoyono on his visit to Britain in October and Indonesia’s achievement in maintaining a strong economy. “I heard that Indonesia’s economic growth reached 6.2 percent. Even Europe could not achieve this,” he said.
Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron and Yudhoyono signed a string of agreements on trade, defense and education during the latter’s visit to London.
They also announced a 7.5 billion pound ($12.1 billion) deal for BP to develop liquid natural gas in Indonesia, and signed an agreement strengthening links between the two countries’ universities.
Following the October visit, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro met with his British counterpart, Philip Hammond, in Jakarta and days later Indonesia sent a team to London to negotiate the purchase of warships from Britain
Hammond told the Financial Times recently that he was hopeful defense sales could form a key part of last year’s pledge by Cameron and Yudhoyono to double bilateral trade by 2015.