I

NDONESIA: Indonesia may open direct flights to Russia as it is strengthening its bilateral ties with Russia with the short visit of its Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa to Moscow today.

“During the future meeting, we’ll discuss things we need to follow up from the Indonesia-Russia strategic partnership, which was signed on April 21, 2003 in Moscow,” Marty, who is scheduled to meet his counterpart Sergey V. Lavrov, said in a press statement issued Thursday.

They would discuss, among others, a possible commencement of direct flights from Indonesia to Russia by state flag carrier Garuda Indonesia and Russian investment in the development of a railway in Central Kalimantan, said the statement.

The follow-ups both ministers will discuss also cover those in the fields of economy, trade and investment, as well as production of satellite-based communication devices and cooperation in security system and information technology development, the statement said.

Both ministers are also expected to exchange views on regional and global issues, including the Korean Peninsula issues, Mideast peace efforts, Iranian nuclear row and insurgencies in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo, as well as the establishment of the new regional architecture, which includes Russia and the United States in the East Asia Summit. — JP