Iran Moving into our Neighbourhood?

"The Iranian president, Ahmadinejad, on a visit to Indonesia, has dismissed Western concern over its nuclear policies as a big lie. His hosts, meanwhile, have offered to mediate in talks.

Wirajuda, asked if Iran's nuclear programme would be raised in bilateral talks, said: "Certainly it will be discussed, it's an important issue."

Wirajuda said: "We support the development of nuclear programmes for peaceful purposes. This is the sovereign right of every nation. But we have been consistently against the proliferation of nuclear weapons."

The prime purpose of Ahmadinejad's visit is supposed to be the development of economic ties.

Iran is investing several billion dollars in the oil and gas sector of Indonesia, a fellow Opec member, and both countries want to increase trade.

Indonesia's government, walking a tightrope between friendship with the West and a political need not to offend the country's overwhelming Muslim majority, is unlikely to push Ahmadinejad very hard on the nuclear issue."

Read this report from Aljazeera here. A relationship between Iran and Indonesia [our nearest northern neighbour] could become a matter of concern.

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Mahler's Prodigal Son

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