President Holds Bilateral Meeting With Ukrainian Counterpart

Seoul, March 27 (ANTARA) -President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono held a bilateral meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych on the sidelines of the Second Summit of Nuclear Safety here on Tuesday (March 27). In the meeting organized at the Convention and Exhibition Hall, Yudhoyono was accompanied by, among others, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam, Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan and Industry Minister MS Hidayat. The meeting covered the potential for the two countries to establish cooperation in the economic and defense fields. A day earlier (March 26), Yudhoyono held bilateral meetings with the prime ministers of Pakistan, Norway and Denmark. Yudhoyono began his bilateral talks with Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. According to Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa, Indonesia and Pakistan agreed to strengthen cooperation in various fields including trade, which has now reached US$1.1 billion, and in combating terrorism. "We are very appreciative of their cooperation over the years, such as their most recent cooperation with the Umar Patek repatriation," Natalegawa added. Besides this, both countries will also strengthen cooperation within the framework of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, he said. Yudhoyono`s second bilateral meeting was with Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg. "What really stands out is their cooperation in the environmental field, especially regarding climate change," said Natalegawa. Norway is Indonesia�s partner in implementing programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions due to deforestation, known as the REDD. On Monday evening (March 26), Yudhoyono held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Denmark Helle Thorning Schmidt. The second nuclear safety summit is being held in Seoul from March 26 to 27, 2012. Participants of the summit include the leaders of 53 countries and the representatives of international organizations such as the United Nations, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the European Union. Based on the approval of the summit`s participating countries and international organizations, Interpol also attends the event.