LEGISLATORS APPLAUDS YUDHOYONO FOR MEETING AHMADINEJAD
Antara News Agency - September 30, 2007Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A legislator from the Golkar Party faction at the Parliament Hajriyanto Y Thohari has applauded President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for holding a meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmaddinejad in New York, the US, recently.
The legislator said here on Friday that he saluted and respected the President and was proud of him for his courage to hold a bilateral meeting with President Ahmaddinejad in New York after attending the 62nd General Assembly of the United Nations.
"The bilateral meeting in front of the nose of the US has a significant meaning. First, it shows that President Yudhoyono is becoming more courageous and independent toward the US and the West in general," he said.
Second, the meeting would improve the bilateral relations between Iran and Indonesia following Indonesia`s support for UN Resolution 1747 on the Iranian nuclear power issue, he said.
Hajriyanto Thohari said that Indonesia should continue to uphold its free and active foreign policy in international relations.
Indonesia would gain more benefit in international forums by not being totally dependent on the United States, he said.
"It (the meeting with the Iranian President) was a courageous step, and once again I want to salute President Yudhoyono for that move. Hopefully, similar moves will follow on other issues," Hajriyanto Thohari said.
President Yudhoyono had to postpone his return to Jakarta from New York on Wednesday for several meetings among others with Iranian President Ahmaddinejad and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The Indonesian Head of State was on a visit to New York, the US, from September 22 to 27 to attend the UN`s 62nd General Assembly. Yudhoyono and his entourage arrived in Jakarta on Saturday (Sept. 29). (*)
Source: Antara News Agency - www.antara.co.id