RI, Turkey eye-to-eye on Libya crisis

Eye to eye: Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, second right, shakes hands with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul, second left, beside his wife Kristiani, right, and Gul's wife Hayrunnisa, left, before a meeting at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday.(AP/Achmad Ibrahim)

Visiting Turkey President Abdullah Gul and Indonesia President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono made a joint statement at bilateral talks calling for the UN to impose a ceasefire to end conflict in Libya.

The two leaders also underlined the need for the UN to monitor a ceasefire, once established, in Libya.

“Turkey and Indonesia are ready to provide support [on the ceasefire],” Gul told a press conference at the State Palace after the meeting.

They also called on the need to facilitate humanitarian assistance for the Libyan people.

“Indonesia is more than willing to take part in the peacekeeping mission [after the ceasefire commences],” President Yudhoyono added.

The two countries also signed an MoU at the meeting on visa exemption for diplomatic visa holders and in disaster management issues.