India to ink extradition treaty, MLAT with Indonesia

NEW DELHI: India is likely to sign several MoUs, including an extradition treaty and Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with Indonesia, during the upcoming visit of its President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade this year.

Giving a boost to the Strategic Partnership signed in 2005, the two countries will ink a number of agreements in the fields of business, energy, science, education and culture during Yudhoyono's three-day visit beginning January 24, Indonesian Ambassador Lt Gen Andi M Ghalib told reporters here.

While the two countries had signed an agreement on counter terrorism and transnational crimes in 2004, Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and an extradition treaty are likely to be concluded, he said.

Ghalib said talks were on to renew MoU on civil nuclear cooperation which was signed a few years ago.

During his 2005 visit to New Delhi, President Yudhoyono and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had signed a joint declaration on establishing a Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

One of the aims of the Strategic Partnership in trade sector was to raise bilateral trade from USD 4 billion in 2005 to USD 10 billion by 2010. But the two countries surpassed the target in 2008 and it is expected to be doubled by 2015.

In an effort to boost the economic relations, a joint group of officials from the two sides have finalised a study on the feasibility of a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) and the two countries might start negotiations during Yudhoyono's visit.

Yudhoyono will also hold discussions with President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Singh on a wide range of bilateral issues.

He is the second Indonesian President to be invited as the chief guest for the Republic Day parade. On January 26, 1950, India had invited Sukarno - the first Indonesian President - as the chief guest at the first R'Day parade.

In reply to a question, Ghalib said while Indonesia has been providing visa on arrival to Indians since 2000, New Delhi was not extending the same facility to Indonesian citizens coming here.