RI, Netherlands extend MoU on diplomats training

Antara News, Tuesday, November 9, 2010 17:09 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia and the Netherlands have extended until 2014 their cooperation agreement in the educational sector specifically in the training of Indonesian diplomats and building the capacity of the Indonesian Foreign Ministry`s Center of Education and Training (CET).

The extension was provided for in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed here on Monday by the secretary general of Indonesia`s Foreign Affairs Ministry, Budi Bowoleksono, and Dutch Ambassador to Indonesia Tjeerd de Zwaan.

Cooperation in diplomatic training between Indonesia and the Netherlands has been going on since February 2004 based on an MoU on the Training of Indonesian Diplomats and Capacity Building of the CET. During the implementation of the MoU, the Clingendael Institute of International Relations in The Hague was appointed as the host of the diplomat training.

"So far 349 Indonesian diplomats have had training at the Clingendael Institute. I expect this cooperation to continue in years to come," Budibowo Leksono said.

Meanwhile, Dutch Ambassador Tjeerd de Zwaan expressed appreciation for the extension of the Indonesia-Netherlands MoU on diplomat training saying that it reflected both countries` wish to cooperate even more closely in the future.

Apart from the educational sector, the ambassador added, his country was very keen to improve bilateral relations with Indonesia in other sectors such as energy, business and people-to-people contacts.

Monday`s MoU signing ceremony was also attended by Indonesian Ambassador to the Netherlands Junus Effendy Habibie and director of the Clingendael Institute Ron Ton.