Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s recent visit to Iran to meet President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad was intended to help mediate an understanding between Iran and the West on Iran’s controversial nuclear programme. For Iranians, the Indonesian visit serves to demonstrate that they are not as isolated as the West would have the media believe. Recently, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Indonesia was the only country that did not condemn Iran’s nuclear programme. While urging Iran to cooperate more with the International Atomic Energy Agency, Indonesia believes that every nation has the right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful intentions. While the Indonesian government is struggling with public opinion concerning plans to build a dozen nuclear power stations on the foot of a volcano in Java, the support lent to Iran hopes to placate the Muslim majority in parliament – while also helping to promote the idea that nuclear energy is safe and that individual countries should have the right to engage in this field if they so choose.
INDONESIAN LEADER’S VISIT TO IRAN
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s recent visit to Iran to meet President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad was intended to help mediate an understanding between Iran and the West on Iran’s controversial nuclear programme. For Iranians, the Indonesian visit serves to demonstrate that they are not as isolated as the West would have the media believe.