We have detected that the browser you are using is no longer supported. As a result, some content may not display correctly.
We suggest that you upgrade to the latest version of any of the following browsers:
close notification
Zimb
abwe's Prime Minister Robert Mugabe met President Megawati
Sukarnoputri yesterday during a private visit to Indonesia and the
two leaders agreed to work to upgrade relations.
The veteran leader, shunned by the West for his alleged attempts to
suppress political opponents, received a warm welcome from
Megawati.
She is considering sending a team to Zimbabwe to improve relations,
especially in the trade sector, according to her foreign minister
Hassan Wirayuda.
Megawati also invited Mugabe to pay an official visit to her
country and to attend the 50th anniversary commemoration of the
Asia-Africa Summit at Bandung in West Java in April 2005.
The Zimbabwean leader decided to open an embassy in Jakarta at the
end of this year, Wirayuda said.
Indonesia already has an embassy in Harare while Zimbabwe's
interests here are represented by its embassy in Kuala
Lumpur.
Zimbabweans are currently suffering unprecedented economic
hardships, with inflation running at 620% and unemployment
estimated at 70%.
Wirayuda said Mugabe's visit was a private one and part of a swing
through several Southeast Asian states including Malaysia and
Singapore.
He said the two leaders discussed the need to enhance relations as
well as issues in Zimbabwe such as the land acquisition campaign
and the country's pullout from the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth of former British colonies has suspended Zimbabwe
from its ruling councils, prompting Mugabe to withdraw from the
grouping last month in protest.
Mugabe is the subject of a travel ban imposed by the European Union
and the US in March 2002 after he was re-elected in polls marred by
alleged vote-rigging and violence.
The talks were also attended by Megawati's husband Taufik Kiemas
and Environment Minister Nabiel Makarim.
On Tuesday Mugabe held talks with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi during a holiday visit to Malaysia, the New Straits Times
said.
The two leaders are said to have reiterated their commitment to
enhancing ties, particularly in trade and investment. –
Sapa-AFP.
Map
