M A I N   N E W S

Help end terrorism, PM pleads

Jakarta, Jan 10 (UNI, PTI) — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today called upon Indonesia to join hands with India in fighting terrorism.

Speaking at a banquet hosted in his honour by Indonesian president Abdurrehman Wahid, Mr Vajpayee said, "The stability, security and prosperity of Indonesia is important for the region’’.

"We both feel proud in our ethnic, religious and linguistic pluralism,’’ he added.

Mr Vajpayee today appealed to the developing countries to come together and give a human face to the globalisation process for minimising the socio-economic disparities caused by the process.

Earlier, Mr Vajpayee arrived here on a four-day visit to Indonesia amid indications that Jakarta is looking towards New Delhi again to forge a close economic and political relationship.

The visit is expected to give a major boost to bilateral relations with the signing of several agreements on defence cooperation, agriculture, science and technology and culture.

Mr Vajpayee, who flew in here from Hanoi, was warmly received by Indonesian president Abdurrahman Wahid, a great admirer of India and follower of Mahatma Gandhi.

He was presented with a guard of honour by a contingent of Indonesian armed forces amid a 19-gun salute.

A number of bilateral agreements are expected to be signed during Vajpayee’s stay in Indonesia, including those in the fields of defence cooperation, agriculture, tourism and culture, but the highlight is likely to be a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on setting up a joint commission to intensify cooperation between the two countries in various spheres.

The foreign ministers of the two countries would be co-chairmen of the commission.

The agreement on defence cooperation is only limited to the supply of some naval equipment and training. There will also be several MoUs between private and public sector companies of both countries, including in the fields of railways, oil and natural gas and consultancy.

The prime minister will also be visiting Malaysia next month.

Wahid departs from protocol

Jakarta, Jan 10 (PTI) — In a rare gesture, Indonesian president Abdurrahman Wahid departed from protocol to receive Mr Vajpayee when he arrived here today on a four-day visit.

The gesture by Mr Wahid is seen as a reflection of the warm and close ties between the two countries.

Besides Wahid, a number of senior ministers in his cabinet were also present at the ceremonial reception accorded to Mr Vajpayee who flew in here from Hanoi.