Cartoon row should not hit Indonesia trade-Denmark

JAKARTA, Jan 22 (Reuters) Indonesia and Denmark should not let a row over cartoons that lampooned Prophet Mohammad interfere with economic ties, the Danish foreign minister said today after signing a trade deal with his Indonesian counterpart.

''Let us be glad to work together instead of having wounds because some publications say something you do not like,'' Per Stig Moller said.

''I think we should be glad that Denmark wants to invest in Indonesia, in your development, in your job creation, in your energy sector and we should be glad you want us to cooperate with you in sectors like that,'' he added.

The cartoons, originally published in 2005 in a Danish newspaper, offended Muslims and provoked violent protests in Asia, Africa and the West Asia that left 50 people dead.

Danish diplomats left Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, briefly in February after protesters rampaged at a Jakarta building housing the Danish embassy.

Asked whether Copenhagen would act if another Danish publication printed something offensive to Muslims, Moller told a news conference: ''I cannot say no to a print, and I cannot say yes to a print.'' ''You can print what you want in a democracy, but you are responsible to the laws. That means you can be taken to task if somebody complains. The judge will decide whether you have broken the laws or not,'' he said, adding the two countries should respect each other's differences.

No further details on investments in the cooperation agreement were immediately available.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said there was potential to increase trade between the two countries. He said bilateral trade was worth around 200 million dollar and Denmark had invested 60 million dollar in Indonesia.

An Indonesian diplomat close to the deal told Reuters the investment happened in the last 15 years and both countries were looking into opportunities in the seaport services and energy sectors.

Moller is also visiting Malaysia and Singapore this week.

Reuters SP GC1537