Welcoming the Indonesian parliamentary delegation, National Assembly Speaker Nebojsa Stefanovic stressed the deep historic ties between Serbia and Indonesia, emphasising Indonesia’s principled support of Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity i.e. the fact that Indonesia had not recognised the independence of Kosovo-Metohija.
Noting that the direct trade exchange between the two countries had amounted to mere six million USD in the past year, Speaker Stefanovic suggested boosting economic cooperation which could be aided by parliamentary contacts, also saying that Serbia was an ideal country to facilitate the Indonesian economy’s breakthrough into the European, as well as Russia market i.e. into countries with which it has special trade facility contracts.
Stefanovic said that the parliaments should prove and show that the cooperation should be raised to a higher level in the upcoming period, adding that the cultural cooperation segment is very important as it would bring the people of the two countries closer together.
H.E. Samuel Samson, Indonesian Ambassador to Serbia, thanked the Speaker for the warm welcome, deeming this a historic visit after a long number of years, and agreeing with the comment that economic cooperation should be boosted, adding that this was one of the priorities of the delegation visiting Serbia which would meet with several institutions of interest for overall cooperation between the two countries in the course of its four-day stay in Serbia. Ambassador Samson emphasised the need to forge a strategic partnership which would confirm the two countries’ close relations.
The head of the parliamentary delegation Milton Pakpahan thanked the Speaker for the hospitality on the behalf of the lower house of the Indonesian Parliament, stressing the wish that the two countries’ friendly relations be furthered by the relations between the two parliaments, as they are obliged to it by the historic connection dating back to the foundation of the Non-Aligned Movement. Pakpahan stressed that the Indonesian Parliament plays a significant role in the country’s foreign policy via bilateral and multilateral contacts and activities. Stressing the need to learn as much as possible about Serbia in the course of the visit, and the Serbian Parliament in particular, he handed over Indonesian Parliament’s official invitation to the delegation of the National Assembly and its Speaker.
Thanking Mr. Pakpahan and accepting the invitation, NARS Speaker Nebojsa Stefanovic said that we would, in the upcoming days, attempt to jointly set the course of our future cooperation, and economic relations in particular, underlining agriculture and energy production as key areas. Stefanovic also briefed the guests on priorities of the new government which is attempting to reduce costs, fight corruption and organised crime, highlighting the importance of the Public Procurement Law which will soon make its way to the parliament and which is an important contribution to the struggle for the country’s economic recovery.