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Blair aims to rebuild relations in Jakarta(The Birmingham Post Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)Prime Minister Tony Blair flew into the Indonesian capital Jakarta yesterday for talks with the leader of the largest Muslim country in the world. Mr Blair, accompanied by his wife Cherie, touched down on the last leg of a marathon seven-day diplomatic mission. Downing Street said it was now the "right time" to repair relations with the former dictatorship that has now transformed itself into the third biggest democracy in the world. A string of initiatives to cement ties between the two countries will be unveiled today, including an Indonesian-UK Islamic advisory group which will seek to promote "mainstream" Muslim beliefs and combat extremism. Mr Blair's official spokesman said it was the "right place, right people, right politics, right time" for the visit. He went on: "It's the right place because Indonesia is the third largest democracy in the world. Right people because it's the largest Muslim country in the world with 210 million Muslims. "Right politics because under its current president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who was elected in October 2004, it is not only committed to democracy but also to clean up corruption and putting in place a proper judicial system. "It's also the right time because it's very much in favour of building up a coalition of moderate opinion against extremist fundamentalist Islamic opinion." In his talks Mr Blair is also expected to agree annual meetings of an Indonesia-UK forum and a deal on police co-operation. |