Jokowi Appreciates Peter Christian Commitment to Respect Indonesia Territorial Integrity

BOGOR, LELEMUKU.COM - Indonesian President Joko Widodo highly appreciated the consistency and commitment of the government of the Federated States of Micronesia in respecting Indonesia`s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"We have agreed to strengthen our cooperation at various fora in the South Pacific region, including the Pacific Islands Forum," Widodo told journalists at a joint press conference with visiting President Peter Martin Christian here on Wednesday.

Christian`s state visit was a new milestone for the two countries` relations, he stated, adding that the two governments pledged to enhance the countries` cooperation in various sectors, particularly in maritime and inter-island connectivity.

"As archipelagic countries, we have agreed to strengthen our cooperation in maritime and inter-island connectivity." In this connection, Indonesia has offered the N219 aircraft to help strengthen the country`s inter-island connectivity and meet the needs of its air transportation.

"Christian will visit the state aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) in Bandung tomorrow," he noted.

Indonesia and Micronesia share many similarities. They both belong to the Pacific nations and are categorized as archipelagic countries, he remarked, adding that Indonesia has at least 17 thousand islands, while Micronesia possesses around 600 islands.

Indonesia and Micronesia were also willing to support their business people for having a better interaction. Therefore, the Micronesian entrepreneurs would be invited to join the Great Expo Indonesia 2018.

Indonesia also vowed to appoint its honorary consul to the country to strengthen bilateral relationship. Indonesia would also offer scholarships and development cooperation programs in an effort to strengthen people-to-people contact among citizens of the two countries, he concluded.

Meanwhile, Christian revealed that the two countries have had a diplomatic relationship for 27 years, and his government is committed to working together with Jakarta in various fields, including making a closer relationship through people-to-people contact.

In doing so, a university student exchange program and inter-university cooperation would be part of the programs, he stated, adding that his government also welcomed a better economic cooperation and closer relationship among businessmen of the two countries.

Christian, who has Ambonese ethnic blood ties, also congratulated Indonesia for its success in becoming a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

During his visit to Indonesia, Christian is scheduled to visit Ambon, the capital city of Maluku Province. For him, Indonesia is not a stranger, because he has ethnic blood ties with the people of Ambon, in which he belongs to the third generation of Ambonese in Micronesia.

"This shows that the two nations have indeed had people-to-people relations for tens and even hundreds of years ago," Widodo remarked. (antara)

Jokowi Claims Freeport Indonesia's Divestment is an Impressive Progress

JAKARTA, LELEMUKU.COM - President Joko Widodo responded to the comments made by some parties who considered that the divestment of 51 percent of PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI)’s shares to the Government of Indonesia through state-owned mining holding company PT Indonesia Asahan Alumunium (Inalum) has not been binding.

The President went on to explain that first process must be the Head of Agreement (HoA), which will be followed up by a second, third agreement, and so on.

“I need to say, the deal took a long process of almost 3.5 years, almost 4 years and this is very tough. If it can get into the Head of Agreement, it has been a very impressive progress,” the President told reporters after giving a public lecture on the 2nd Batch of National Defense Training of Democratic National (Nasdem) Party, in the Nasdem National Defense Academy Building, Pancoran, Jakarta, on Monday (16/7).

The President asserted that it does not mean that the agreement is directly signed, as the negotiation took a long process of 3.5 years.

“Thanks to God, we are grateful for the progress,” the President firmly said.

As reported earlier, the Government of Indonesia through PT Inalum with Freeport-McMoran Inc. (FCX) and Rio Tinto have signed the Head of Agreement related to the sale of FCX shares and Rio Tinto’s participation rights in PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) to Inalum, at the Ministry of Finance, Jakarta, on Thursday (12/7).

“The Inalum’s share ownership in PTFI after the sale of shares and rights is now 51 percent from the previous figure of 9.36 percent,” Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati told a press conference at the Ministry of Finance on Thursday (12/7) afternoon.

According to Sri, under the Agreement, Inalum will spend 3.85 billion USD to obtain Rio Tinto’s participation right in PTFI and 100 percent of FCX at PT Indocopper Investama, which owns 9.36 percent of PTFI’s shares.

“The parties will complete this sale before the end of 2018,” Sri said. Meanwhile, Minister of  Energy and Mineral Resources Ignasius Jonan added that, with the signing of this Agreement, the whole agreement with FCX, which includes divestment of 51 percent shares, changes from Contract of Work to the Special Mining Permit (IUPK) have been completed including the commitment to building smelter facilities. (Setkab)