EMIR OF QATAR INTERESTED IN BUYING CN 235 AIRCRAFT

Jakarta, May 19 (ANTARA) - The Emir of Qatar, Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, has expressed interest in buying CN 235 aircraft manufactured by PT Dirgantara Indonesia.

Sheikh Hamad in a bilateral meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at Merdeka Palace here on Tuesday expressed his interest in the CN 235.

"Just now, when the President had a talk with the Emir on CN 235, the Emir directly said that he wanted to buy (the aircraft) and instructed his assistant to contact the State Enterprises Minister (BUMN) or the company to order the plane," Dino Patty Djalal, a presidential spokesman, told the press following the bilateral meeting between the two leaders.

The number of aircraft that the Qatar Emir wanted to buy would be discussed in a meeting with a concerned ministry and PT Dirgantara, he said.

"The number of the aircraft to be ordered is not stated. The Emir is indeed looking for a plane with a seat capacity of 12 to 35 passengers," he said.

Meanwhile, Alwi Shihab, a special envoy of the Indonesian president, after accompanying Yudhoyono in the meeting with the Qatari Emir, said the plan to purchase the aircraft would be followed up in a technical meeting.

He said Qatar wanted to have a long term relations with Indonesia.

"We want to lay a clear and strong foundation for our future cooperation," Shihab said.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono received the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani at the Merdeka Palace here on Tuesday morning.

Accompanied by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, the president received the Emir of Qatar and his wife Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned at 10 a.m local time.

During the meeting, President Yudhoyono and his guest discussed bilateral matters related to cooperation in the economy and in other sectors between the two countries.

On the occasion, a memorandum of understanding on economic and technical cooperation was signed by the Indonesian foreign minister and the Minister of State for International Cooperation of the State of Qatar in the presence of the two leaders.

The Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad was accompanied by his Finance and Economic Minister Yousef Hussein Kamal and a number of government officials, while President Yudhoyono was accompanied by Minister/State Secretary Hatta Radjasa, Foreign Affairs Minister Nur Hassan Wirayuda, Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh Basyuni, and the State Ministry for State Enterprises (BUMN) secretary, Rozi Munir.