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To: Ruffian who wrote (4968)	1/9/2000 8:54:00 PM
From: LBstocks	Respond to of 13582

Indonesia interested in CDMA> Indonesian president to visit Korea in early February to strengthen ties Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid will visit Korea early next month to strengthen bilateral relations, Jakarta's top envoy in Seoul said yesterday. The Indonesian leader will hold a summit with President Kim Dae-jung to discuss ties in business and politics, Amb. Jauhari Nataatmaja said. Wahid, who took office last October, is the first Indonesian head of state to come to Korea in 18 years since former President Suharto visited Seoul in 1982, Nataatmaja added. In an interview with The Korea Herald, the Indonesian diplomat also hinted at resuming the country's suspended national car project, in which Korea's Kia Motors Corp. is deeply involved. In addition, while appreciative of Korea's troop dispatch to East Timor as part of a U.N. peacekeeping operation, Amb. Nataatmaja made clear that any reinforcements should be military medics or engineers rather than combat troops. Evaluating Korea as a developed nation, he said, "Korea is very important to Indonesia and I hope economic ties will continue to strengthen between Korea and developing nations like Indonesia." Nataatmaja described the two nations' relationship as "complimentary" and proposed increasing mutually beneficial exchanges. "You need resources from Indonesia, we need more (business) missions from your country," he said. Although the two nations have maintained healthy bilateral economic relations - helping Korea emerge as the 8th-largest foreign investor in the Southeast Asian country - the Indonesian envoy stressed there are still many more opportunities to further economic ties. "Despite the growing trade relations, both countries have shown interest in even closer cooperation, for example, in such areas as automobiles and telecommunications," he noted. Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Hong Soon-young, during his visit to Jakarta Dec. 21-23, received an encouraging response from the Indonesian government on resuming its national car project. It has been suspended since its Korean partner, Kia, was merged into Hyundai Motor Co. in the aftermath of the economic crisis that hit Korea in late 1997. The Indonesian government also expressed great interest in the code division multiple access (CDMA) mobile phone system that has been commercialized by Korean firms. Hong promised to send a trade and investment delegation during the first half of this year. Aside from the brisk economic exchanges, Jakarta, which has diplomatic ties with both Seoul and Pyongyang, strongly supports President Kim Dae-jung's engagement policy towards the North, the top diplomat said. "We praise that the policy is very pragmatic," Nataatmaja said. "But South Korea must be more flexible and patient in waiting for North Korea's positive response, while keeping up economic and humanitarian assistance to North Korea." He also supported Seoul's handling of North Korean refugees in China through a humanitarian rather than political approach. "Since the North Korean refugees are not being protected by international law, we honor Minister Hong's remarks that he would accept any North Korean refugees who want to live in South Korea," the Indonesian ambassador said. Nataatmaja expressed appreciation for Seoul's participation in the peacekeeping force in East Timor under the U.N. flag. Korea dispatched a 419-member combat unit to the ravaged island last October. The United Nations and Korea agreed to suspend a decision on whether to send additional combat troops late last year, and resume discussions in April if the United Nations asks for any increase. Virtually denying an additional dispatch of combat troops, however, the Indonesian envoy said, "If the Korean government intends to send additional troops to East Timor, it will be appreciated if the composition is more toward medical and engineering units instead of combat troops, since conditions in East Timor are getting better and better." Helping ease concerns about possible riots against ethnic Koreans in Indonesia over the troop dispatch, Amb. Nataatmaja said, "The concerns of a clash between pro-integration militia and Korean combat troops have yet to be materialized, nor is there any evidence of ill effects to the Korean community in Indonesia." Indonesia is bidding to attract foreign investors and restore confidence in Indonesia, thus it has taken strict precautionary steps against riots or disturbances, he said. Updated: 01/10/2000 by Yoo Jae-suk Staff reporter