Indonesia supports Myanmar's efforts to resolve horizontal conflicts

By Antara News

May 11, 2014

Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar - The Indonesian government supports Myanmars efforts to resolve horizontal conflicts, including those involving the Rohingya ethnic group, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said.

"Where the Rohingya issue is concerned, since our visit (to Myanmar) in January 2013, the Indonesian government has extended US$1 million in aid to build schools in the two communities involved in a conflict," Marty said after signing a visa exemption agreement for regular passport holders here on Saturday.

Marty said Indonesia had built four schools in the western Myanmar state of Rakhine.

"According to information from our ambassador, we have built four schools in the Myanmar state of Rakhine to promote their spirit of reconciliation," he said.

Marty further said both Indonesia and Myanmar had close relations, referring to the perspective of the two countries history.

"As countries which are in the process of transition to democracy, we feel comfortable to share experience and issues of mutual concern," he said.

To enhance cooperation between the two countries, the governments of Indonesia and Myanmar signed a visa exemption agreement for regular passport holders.

Hopefully, the agreement would encourage people-to-people contact between the two nations.