PRESIDENT TO DISCUSS VARIOUS ISSUES DURING MALAYSIA VISIT

Jakarta, Nov 6 (ANTARA) - During his working visit to Malaysia next week, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will discuss various issues of concern to the two countries, including border problems and migrant workers' protection, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said.

Speaking to reporters after accompanying the president in receiving the credentials of a number of foreign ambassadors at Merdeka Palace here on Friday, Natalegawa said President Yudhoyono would make a reciprocal visit to Malaysia to discuss a number of issues between the two countries.

"Border issues, migrant workers protection, and regional issues will be discussed by the president during his working visit to Malaysia next week," Natalegawa said.

He said President Yudhoyono and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak would discuss the development of relations between the two countries so far and the newest issue related to cooperation in various fields.

"So it will be like taking stock of how relations between the two countries have developed," Natalegawa said.

Asked if the head of state on the occasion would give his special attention to the question of concluding a bilateral manpower cooperation agreement between Indonesia and Malaysia, Natalegawa was reluctant to elaborate on the matter.

"The bilateral meeting between President Yudhoyono and Prime Minister Najib Razak will enable them to study how far the development in the discussion at ministerial level and technical level with an expectation that significant development can be reached," the foreign affairs minister said.

Asked again about the development in the new agreement between Indonesian team from Manpower and Transportation Ministry and Malaysian negotiators on Indonesian migrant workers protection in Malaysia, Natalegawa said he had yet to receive any newest report concerning the matters.

He said the president was scheduled to make the working visit to Malaysia and Singapore from November 11-15, 2009, and in Singapore the head of state would have a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and then attend Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and ASEAN-US summit.