Indonesia-Sweden Increase Cooperation on Human Rights Activity

The Indonesian and Swedish government will increase cooperation on human rights activity. Representatives from both countries will attend the first dialog on human rights on April 23-24 in Jakarta. "Human rights is an important foundation politically, " said Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Nur Hassan Wirajuda when Swedish foreign affairs minister Carl Bildt visited his office yesterday. The human rights dialog, said Hassan, is proposed to formalize the informal dialog, as a forum to coordinate assistance and cooperation from both countries for the human rights issue. Human rights cooperation between Indonesia and Sweden was once accomplished through organizations like the Swedish International Development Agency and Raoul Wallenberg Institute. In the future, both countries expect to adjust their assistance and cooperation with Indonesian priorities and needs.

"We will send Indonesians to Sweden to attend human rights training," said Hassan.The human rights dialog will be opened by Justice and Human Rights Minister Andi Mattalata. The dialog will discuss about violence to women, accessibility for handicaps, and protection for children with legal problems. "We want to share and exchange experiences in the human rights enforcement, " said Bildt. The meeting also discussed about the development of both countries; the progress of their bilateral relationships; international issues related to the European Union, issues in Burma, Iraq and Palestine; and climate change issues.

Bildt will stay in Indonesia until today. He will meet with Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the President's special representative Ali Alatas. Bildt will also attend the discussion about Burmese issues at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Jakarta.

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