Indonesia is considering opening an embassy in Libya, Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab said Wednesday.
"The vice president has agreed, and instructed us to study the matter, even though it is realized that the foreign ministry budget is limited," Shihab was quoted by the Satunet online news service as saying after meeting Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri.
Indonesian interests in Libya are currently handled by the Indonesian embassy in Tunisia.
Shihab said that the opening of an embassy in Libya would not influence Jakarta's ties with the United States.
"The opening of the embassy will not influence ties between Indonesia and the United States because maintaining good relations with all nations is a characteristic of our (non-aligned) foreign policy," Shihab said.
Shihab said that Megawati will later this month visit Turkey, Kuwait, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Malaysia, and take part in a minor Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabai on her return trip.
The visit is aimed at following up the results of trips to those countries by President Abdurrahman Wahid, and to enhance cooperation with those nations, Shihab said -- JAKARTA (AFP)
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