Indonesia asks Iran to prioritize expansion of fertilizer firm

Jakarta, July 30 (Antara) -- Indonesia has urged Iran to give priority to the expansion of its fertilizer company PT Pupuk Sriwijaya (Pusri), expressing hope that Tehran will resolve the issues related to its nuclear program and have its embargo lifted. The request was made by Vice President Jusuf Kalla directly to Iranian Ambassador to Indonesia Valiollah Mohammadi, in a meeting in Jakarta on Thursday, Government Policy Support Deputy of the Vice Presidential Secretariat Dewi Fortuna Anwar said here on Thursday. "The vice president hopes that the problem of sanctions against Iran is settled soon because it hampers its business relations with other countries, including Indonesia, which has a plan to build a fertilizer factory there," Anwar stated at the Vice Presidential Office. Indonesia's Pusri once established cooperation with the Iranian National Petrochemical Company to build a fertilizer firm in the country. However, the cooperation could not be realized as it was hampered by the sanctions imposed by several countries on Iran. With the resolution of the UN Security Council on Iran's nuclear program, Indonesia hopes that the nation can improve its regulation on the subject soon so that the embargos are lifted. Kalla also expressed hope that the sanctions against Iran are soon lifted so that cooperation between Iran and other countries can be realized. "The vice president congratulated Iran and expressed his happiness over the agreement on its nuclear program. He hopes that sanctions against the country are resolved posthaste, as they hamper its business relations with other nations," she explained. Furthermore, Ambassador Mohammadi said his side was ready to discuss further Pusri's plan to build a fertilizer factory in Iran. "We also discussed the need to increase bilateral investments of the two countries, which includes the plan to build Pusri's factory," he affirmed. The Iranian government has also expressed its readiness to cooperate with Indonesia in the field of nuclear technology, following the United Nations Security Council Resolution on Iran's nuclear program. "The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to share its experience in the field of advanced nuclear technology based on international regulations," Mohammadi said. Mohammadi met with Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Thursday. It was during this meeting that Kalla expressed his views on Iran's nuclear program. "I listened to Vice President Kalla, who supports the agreement. He also hopes that the cooperation can serve to boost the bilateral relations between the two countries," the ambassador remarked. Moreover, Anwar stated that the vice president had expressed his appreciation of the deal agreed upon by the United Nations Security Council on Iran's nuclear program. Kalla believes that the sanctions on Iran can be lifted so its government can cooperate with other countries. "The vice president is very pleased because the sanctions on Iran can be resolved," Anwar affirmed. An Iranian delegation will visit Indonesia to discuss the use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. As reported by Reuters, Iran and six leading world powers signed a comprehensive plan to end international sanctions against Iran in exchange for putting restrictions on its controversial nuclear program. The deal signed in Vienna on Tuesday is meant to break a 12-year standoff over Iran's nuclear activities, which some nations claimed involved military research. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action acknowledges Iran's right for peaceful nuclear development on par with any other signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The agreement provides for a joint commission to be established to monitor the implementation of the action plan and handle dispute situations. In addition, the International Atomic Energy Agency is tasked with verifying voluntary nuclear-related measures taken by Iran. Iran and the six nations---China, France, Germany, Russia, the U. K. and the U. S.---are to hold ministerial-level meetings at least once every two years to monitor the progress.