On August 8 the Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian visited the Republic of Indonesia.

On the same day talks between Edward Nalbandian and the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marty M. Natalegawa took place, first in a tête-à-tête format, and then with the participation of the delegations.

Welcoming Edward Nalbandian, the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs mentioned that he was pleased to host the Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and expressed hope that the visit would open a new page in the bilateral relations. According to Minister Natalegawa, the interaction between Armenia and Indonesia has a huge potential for development and this visit gives a good opportunity to discuss the ways to disclose and use that potential. Marty M. Natalegawa underlined as well that his country intends to give a new impetus to the bilateral relations.

Expressing gratitude for the invitation to visit Jakarta, Edward Nalbandian said that his visit is a symbolic one, as it takes place on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries. Edward Nalbandian stressed the importance to reach an agreement on development and expansion of the interaction with Indonesia in various spheres. In the words of the Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs, that is the main goal of his visit.

“During the meeting held exactly three months ago in Sharm el-Sheikh, we agreed to take efficient steps towards the strengthening and deepening of our bilateral cooperation and I am pleased to stress that today in response to Your invitation, I am here in Jakarta for that purpose. I would like to inform You about Armenian’s intention to open an embassy in Indonesia, a country which has an important role in the South-East Asia. This would give a new impetus and a new quality to our relations,” underscored the Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Welcoming Armenia’s intention to open an embassy in Jakarta, Minister Natalegaw stressed that the Indonesian authorities would provide any support to the activities of the embassy.

The sides had a thorough talk on the steps to be undertaken towards the development of friendly bilateral relations, and agreed to intensify political dialogue, to make the interaction within international organizations closer, to create legal framework and to work towards the development of trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation.

In the context of the discussion over the promotion of business ties, the Ministers talked about the possibility to launch cooperation between the Trade Chambers of Armenia and Indonesia.

For boosting cultural exchanges, the Armenian side purposed to reach an agreement on the elaboration and signing of an agreement over the cooperation in that sphere.

The Armenian and Indonesian Ministers of Foreign Affairs exchanged views on a number of regional and international agenda issues.

Minister Nalbandian presented the main vectors and priorities of Armenia’s foreign policy, and the steps undertaken by Armenia towards the establishment of security and cooperation in the South Caucasus. Minister Nalbandian presented his Indonesian counterpart the recent developments in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. The Ministers shared the view that the peaceful negotiated settlement of the issue has no alternative.

The Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs presented the developments unrolling in the South-East Asia region and in the frames of the ASEAN, as well as international agenda issues. Minister Natalegaw presented the growing role of the ASEAN (located in Jakarta) in the region. Marty M. Natalegawa informed about the processes in the frames of that Organization, as well.

The Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs invited his Indonesian counterpart to visit Yerevan.

The Armenian and Indonesian Ministers of Foreign Affairs signed an Agreement between the Governments of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Indonesia on economic, scientific and technical cooperation.

After the meeting of the Ministers a joint press conference followed.

In Jakarta Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with Muhammad Hatta Rajasa, the Minister for Economics of Indonesia.

During the meeting the sides exchanged views on the steps aimed at the promotion of the Armenian-Indonesian trade and economic cooperation- the interaction in the spheres of studying investment opportunities, organization of business conferences and exhibitions, establishment of contacts between the business circles of the two countries and cooperation in the spheres of IT, agriculture and tourism.

Edward Nalbandian and Muhammad Hatta Rajasa stressed the importance of the signing of the Agreement between Armenia and Indonesia on economic, scientific and technical cooperation which provides for the establishment of the Armenian-Indonesian joint commission.

In the evening, concluding his visit to Jakarta, Edward Nalbandian left for Auckland, where on August 9, the meeting of the Armenian Minster of Foreign Affairs with the Minster of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand is scheduled.