Indonesia backs Iran's nuclear program

Jakarta, October 02: Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa has voiced his country's support for Iran's peaceful nuclear program.

Marty made the remarks on Friday after a meeting between Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and a senior Iranian lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi.

The Indonesian official emphasized that any country should enjoy equal rights to develop nuclear technology for civilian use.

During the meeting, Boroujerdi, who chairs Iran's Majlis (parliament) Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy, submitted the message of President Ahmadinejad to his Indonesian counterpart.

The senior Majlis deputy also conveyed a separate message from Iran's Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani to Indonesian Parliament Speaker Marzouqi Ali.

According to Boroujerdi, the two officials also discussed cooperation between the Iranian and Indonesian parliaments, Asian Parliamentary Assembly, and expansion of parliamentary ties among Islamic countries, IRNA reported.

Indonesian foreign minister also hailed Iran's nuclear program and said that Tehran is committed to developing nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

Indonesia has officially endorsed Iran's right to peaceful nuclear technology. In a press conference in April 2007, Yudhoyono called Iran's nuclear program peaceful and referred to the United Nations resolutions against the country as "illegal."