Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Turkish President Abdullah Gul has reaffirmed the significance of Indonesian-Turkish bilateral relations when welcoming an Indonesian parliamentary delegation, according to a report from Ankara.

President Abdullah Gul told the Indonesian delegation at Cankaya Palace, Ankara, on Tuesday (April 19), that bilateral ties with Indonesia were among the most important things, the Indonesian embassy in the Turkish capital said in a press statement on Wednesday.

The seven-member delegation of the House of Representatives (DPR)`s Commission I led by Mahfudz Siddiq, is in Turkey for a working visit from April 17 to 21, 2011, especially to strengthen the ties of the two countries` parliaments and to explore cooperation in the field of defense industry.

During their stay in Turkey, the Indonesian legislators, accompanied by Indonesian Ambassador to Turkey Nahari Agustini, held meetings with, among others, Turkish National Defense Minister Lt. Gen Umit Dundar; Intelligence Agency Chief Dr. Hakan Fidan; and Chief of Turkish Parliament`s Commission on European Union Harmonization Ambassador Yasar Yakis (former foreign minister).

They also visited several defense industries such as MKEK, T.A.I (Turkish Aerospace Industry), Roketsan, FNSS, and Nurol Holding.

In the last day, they would visit shipbuilding industry DEARSAN in Tuzla, Istanbul.

The visiting legislators also held a hearing with Ambassador Nahari Agustini and her staff in Ankara, where they wanted to get firsthand information on the Indonesian embassy`s activities to intensify the bilateral relations between Indonesia and Turkey and the protection and services for Indonesian nationals in Turkey.

Ambassador Nahari said the visit of the DPR delegation was at the right moment, namely two weeks after the visit of President Gul to Indonesia (April 4-6), so that they could still feel the satisfaction of the Turkish president about his visit to Indonesia.

She also emphasized the importance of following up the commitments made by President Gul and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono with the support and cooperation of all parties.
(Tz. F001/HAJM)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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