RI, NORWAY TO INCREASE COOPERATION IN DEMOCRACY DEVELOPMENT

Jakarta, April 30 (ANTARA) - Indonesia and Norway have made a mutual commitment to step up their cooperation in development of democracy, energy and fisheries.

Their committment was contained in a letter of intent signed by Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda and his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Store in Norway recently, the Indonesian foreign ministry said in a statement received here on Thursday.

On the occasion the ministers also signed an agreement on "Baron Technopark Renewable Energy Project" and "Grant Agreement for Capacity Building in Fisheries and Aquaculture."
Minister Hassan and Minister Store said that the three agreements were not the peak of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

The two countries are also committed to continue to seek and expand cooperation possibilities in various fields such as global health, handling of environmental issues and in achieving milleneum development goals.

During the meeting the two ministers also exchanged views on recent developments in their respective countries, the impact of current economic crisis and international issues such as developments in the Middle East, Afghanistan, G-20 and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

Hassan Wirajuda was in Norway to open the implementation of the 8th Indonesia-Norway Human Rights Dialogue.

In the meeting Norway agreed to extend US$2.5 million for the establishment of an Institute Democracy Forum through Bali Democracy Forum and 5.2 million Norwegian kroners for the implementation of capacity development program in the fishery and aquaculture and 6.5 million Norwegian kroners for supporting promotion of renewable natural resource development in particularly the Baron Technopark in Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta, for the period of 2009-2012.