Yudhoyono: Humanitarian missions to Gaza must be respected

Antara News, Tuesday, June 29, 2010 21:52 WIB

Ankara (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the humanitarian missions to Gaza initiated by a number of humanitarian agencies from various countries should be respected.

He made the statement in a press conference along with Turkish President Abdullah Gul after the two met at the Presidential Palace at 11am local time or 3pm Jakarta time here on Tuesday.

"The missions to Gaza must be respected by all parties," he said.

President Yudhoyono said he had discussed various bilateral, regional and international issues including the settlement of the Palestinian problem at his meeting with President Gul.

"The Palestinian problem is an issue on which we are calling for a territorial sovereignty of a free country," he said.

President Yudhoyono said the cooperation between the two countries would not only cover economy, trade, education and culture but also in various international organizations.

Right now Indonesia and Turkey are active in the Organization of the Islamic Coference (OIC), the D-8 and G-20.

After the meeting the two leaders witnessed the signing of cooperation documents in the fields of politics, defense industry, small and medium industries, culture, transportation, manpower and joint programs for increasing investment and a news exchange program between Indonesian state television TVRI and Turkish television.

The documents were signed from Indonesia by Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Industry Minister MS Hidayat, Tourism Minister Jero Wacik, Transportation Minister Fredy Numberi, Manpower Minister Muhaimin Iskandar, Head of the Capital Investment Coordinating Board Gita Wirjawan and TVRI News Director Yon Anwar.