World appreciation for RI increasing

LONDON (Antara): The world is increasingly appreciating a new and democratic Indonesia with its predominantly moderate Muslim population, Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirajuda said Tuesday.

"The appreciation has been expressed by many international quarters and is enabling Indonesia to pursue its active and independent foreign policy," Wirajuda said at a gathering with members of the Indonesian community in Britain.

Present at the function were also Indonesian Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland Marty M. Natalegawa, Kartika Soekarno Puteri, a daughter of the late President Soekarno.

Wirajuda is visiting London together with Trade Minister Mari Pangestu and Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono to attend an Indonesia-UK Partnership Forum and to inaugurate the newly-established Indonesia-UK Islamic Advisory Group (IAG).

The Group's formation was agreed on at a meeting between President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Prime Minister Tony Blair when the latter visited Jakarta in March 2006.

Wirajudha said Blair's visit to Indonesia had become a new pillar in Indonesia-UK bilateral relations.