Jakarta, kpu.go.id- As a preparation for Memorandum of Understanding with Russian Electoral Commission related to election cooperation, KPU-RI held a meeting with Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry on Wednesday May 5th at assembly room, first floor, KPU office to discuss the memorandum of understanding.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on election cooperation between Electoral Commission of Indonesia and Electoral Commission of Russia is a result of KPU-RI’s visit to Russian Electoral Commission some time ago. The Memorandum of Understanding is scheduled to be signed in Moscow, Russia in June 2011.

The arrangement of MoU draft was discussed in the Seven Session meeting on October 2010 at Moscow. As an agreement of the meeting, KPU-RI sent the counter draft on November 4th through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However it is possible to make a revision so that KPU-RI has to make a more perfect draft adjusted with the International Law prevailing in Indonesia.

Abdul Aziz, a member of KPU RI that led the meeting said the revision of the MoU is just to make it perfect without changing the previous substance that have been agreed earlier. He said,” the revision today is a cosmetic revision, meaning it doesn’t change the substance that has been agreed in the Seven Session.” On the occasion Abdul Aziz was accompanied by Sri Nuryanti, a member of KPU in Planning and Data Bureau.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs represented by Directorate of Central and East Europe and Directorate of International Agreement, the MoU has to be carefully observed so it will not harm other parties in the future.

Representative of Central and East Europe Directorate said, “The point is, is there an agreement between KPU-RI and Russia Electoral Commission? It is possible to do this through ratification due to the absence of regulation. It is in accordance with the International Agreement Law.”

According to the result of the meeting with secretary of state, KPU-RI will send a letter to the Russian Electoral Commission (through Ministry of Foreign Affairs-ed) about the changing of the MoU draft. Abdul Aziz said, “KPU-RI needs cosmetic revision to adjust it with the law in Indonesia.”