JAKARTA/KUALA LUMPUR - ''Indonesia should lead the lifting of the blockade against northern (Turkish) Cyprus,'' said Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Erdogan met Indonesian President Susilo Yudhoyono on Monday.
Sources said that Turkey and Indonesia have decided in principle to increase relations between two countries on every area. Erdogan and Yudhoyono also decided that sea transportation, besides cultural and economic relations should be enhanced.
Yudhoyono said during the meeting, ''Turkey which is successful in combining Islam, democracy and modernity is an example for us.''
The two parties have reached consensus to cooperate in fight against terrorism and Turkish PM Erdogan said, ''There is a cause and effect relationship in terrorism. The most important reason is ignorance and corruption. These cannot be separated from each other. Thus, we should cooperate to prevent ignorance and corruption develop.''
Erdogan informed Yudhoyono about Cyprus peace process and asked for the support of Indonesia in favor of Turkish Cypriots. He said, ''Indonesia should lead the lifting of the blockade against northern Cyprus.''
The two parties also agreed to make OIC (Organization of the Islamic Conference) more active.
Yudhoyono told Erdogan, ''we attribute importance to economic developments in Turkey and Turkey's EU membership. It is a very significant step for the whole Islamic world.''