1. The Meeting was held in Oslo on April 27, 2009. The Indonesian delegation was lead by Mr Hassan Wirajuda, Foreign Minister of Indonesia and the Norwegian delegation by Mr Jonas Gahr Støre, Foreign Minister of Norway. A list of the delegations and the agenda for the meeting are attached.
2. During his stay in Norway, the Foreign Minister of Indonesia visited the Lofoten islands, where energy issues, climate change and sustainable development of national resources were discussed. The two Ministers officially opened the 8th round of the annual bilateral Human Rights Dialogue on April 27th in Oslo.
3. The delegations exchanged views on a number of bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of interest for both countries.
4. The two delegations noted with satisfaction the excellent bilateral relations and that bilateral relations have expanded very positively since Foreign Minister Wirajuda’s first visit to Norway January 2006.
5. Both parties highlighted progress in the following sectors: energy, environment and climate change, disarmament and non-proliferation, human right and democracy building, Global Intermedia Dialogue, health and foreign policy, UN-reform and Network of global leaders (MDG 4 and 5). The two delegations emphasized the need to continue to support and expand cooperation in these fields and also explore new areas of co-operations.
6. The two sides express satisfaction with the cooperation in the field of climate and energy, in particular through the bilateral energy dialog, the UN REDD program and the bilateral development cooperation program focusing on these areas. The Norwegian side announced that a new position as counsellor for climate and forestry issues will be established at the Norwegian Embassy in Jakarta to further strengthen this cooperation.
7. Both parties agreed that there is a great potential for further bilateral economic cooperation. They discussed the possibility of starting negotiations between Indonesia and EFTA about a trade agreement. The Norwegian side informed that Innovation Norway has been requested to look into the possibility of establishing a resident representative in Indonesia.
8. The two countries agreed to continue the energy dialogue, with annual bilateral consultations and a bilateral seminar on renewable energy later this year. The Norwegian side informed that President Yudhoyono has been invited by Prime Minister Stoltenberg to the high-level meeting on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) which is taking place in Bergen 27-28th May 2009.
9. The two parties signed a Grant Agreement for the Baron Technopark Renewable Energy Project and a Grant Agreement for Capacity Building in Fisheries and Aquaculture.
10. Norway conveyed support to continuous Indonesian anti-corruption efforts and stated its appreciation that commissioners from the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) participate in the Norwegian initiated Corruption Hunter Network. Norway further announced that it is supporting UNODC’s cooperation with Indonesian anti-corruption institutions with USD 2 million in 2009/10.
11. The Indonesian side noted with satisfaction the increase in Norwegian tourism to Bali and that a fourth Norwegian education institution will be established in Bali, bringing the expected annual number of Norwegian students to Bali up to 1000 persons.
12. As a follow-up to the Global Intermedia Dialogue (GIMD), Norway announced its intention to financially support the Indonesian Press Council and their training of journalists in code of ethics as well as in relevant Indonesian laws and regulations. Another GIMD related effort is the financial support of Norway for researchers and students exchanges in the field of media and communication between University of Indonesia and the University of Oslo/Oslo University College.
13. Both sides agreed to expand cultural exchanges. The Norwegian side revealed intentions to substantially increase its cooperation with Indonesian cultural institutions, especially within film and music, among others through South-East Asia's largest film festival, the Jakarta International Film Festival, with JavaJazz and Jakarta Arts Council.
14. The two sides noted with satisfaction the launch of negotiations for visa exemptions for diplomatic passport holders. The Norwegian side requested the Indonesian authorities to consider issuing 5-month student visas for Norwegian students going to Indonesia.
15. Both side noted with satisfaction the recent signing into force of the ASEAN charter last December. The Norwegian side expressed its full support of this process and the organizations goal of building an ASEAN Community by 2015. The Norwegian side announced that they have requested that the Norwegian Ambassador in Jakarta should be accredited to ASEAN.
16. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the many visits on political level over the last three years, including the visits of President Yudhoyono and Prime Minister Stoltenberg. The two sides also noted with satisfaction the successful political consultation (Foreign Office Consultations) held in Oslo in October in 2008 and agreed to hold this year’s round of political consultation in Jakarta at the end of 2009.
17. The Norwegian side complimented Indonesia with the establishment of the Bali Democracy Forum. A letter of Intent in the field of Norwegian support to the Bali Democracy Forum was signed by the two ministers during the meeting, specifying areas which should be explored for future co-operation within the Bali Democracy Forum framework. Norway has pledged NOK 14.5 million to its endowment fund and NOK 3 million to related activities.
18. Indonesia and Norway agreed to jointly organise a seminar on peace and reconciliation efforts that will be held in Indonesia in conjunction with Norway’s support to the Bali Democracy Forum.
19. The two countries agreed to establish a trilateral agreement on higher education of Afghan students in Indonesia, where at least half of the participants should be women, starting with a pilot project at the Udayana University in Bali. The Indonesian side will approach the Afghan side in order to have the three parties jointly work out modalities and scope for such cooperation in conjunction with Norway’s support to the Bali Democracy Forum.
20. Both sides also agreed to establish a training program for Indonesian Diplomats in the area of Human Rights, tailor-made to the background and experience of the diplomats and with mutual exchanges of visits to their respective Ministries of Foreign Affairs.
21. Both sides underlined the importance of the global disarmament and non-proliferation treaties and the importance of securing a positive and forward-looking outcome of the NPT 2010 Review Conference. Both sides pledged to work closely towards this end, and make the fullest use of the Seven Nation Initiative.
22. Indonesia and Norway together with the Implementation Support Unit of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) will be organising a workshop to support the BTWC work program in supporting capacity building in disease surveillance in Oslo 18-19 June 2009. The theme of the workshop is very much in line with the thinking of the Foreign Policy and Global Health Initiative calling for greater awareness to the many links between foreign policy and global health issues.
23. Both sides underlined the desire to further strengthen and deepen the bilateral dialogue on political, environment and security issues.
Agenda for the meeting
Bilateral issues
· Political situation,
· Human Rights Dialogue and other Human Rights issues
· Economic co-operation and development, energy co-operation
· New areas for co-operation
Regionale issues
· ASEAN, Myanmar
· Northern areas
Internastional issues
· Climate change and forestry, UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen
· Health and Foreign Policy
· Disarmament and non-prolifiration
· Afghanistan
· Middle East
· Sri Lanka
· Durban Review Conference