Global leaders offer sympathy and help to Indonesia<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The leaders of dozens of countries are flying in to Indonesia
\nbearing funds, heavy equipment and other aid for relief and
\nreconstruction efforts in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam and North
\nSumatra.<\/p>\n
In bilateral meetings with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,
\nworld leaders conveyed sympathy and offered various forms of
\nassistance, in a show of global solidarity for the tsunami-
\nstricken areas and people.<\/p>\n
Susilo received on Wednesday South Korean Prime Minister Lee
\nHae-chan, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Chinese
\nPrime Minister Wen Jiabao, Myanmar Prime Minister Soe Win,
\nAustralian Prime Minister John Howard and the United States
\nSecretary of State Colin Powell.<\/p>\n
South Korea pledged to loan one Landing Ship Tank -- an
\namphibious ship with the capacity to carry up to 29 tanks and 350
\ntroops -- which will be on stand-by off the Meulaboh coast to
\nsupport reconstruction efforts and deliver heavy equipment.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the World Bank has promised additional grants, and
\nhas already submitted a US$25 million grant proposal to its
\ncentral council.<\/p>\n
World Bank President James Wolfensohn said the bank was ready
\nto provide three kinds of assistance besides the grant, such as
\nlow- or no-interest loans with a 30-year repayment term.<\/p>\n
\"We just want to let the Indonesian government know that the
\nmoney is there for them to use in accordance with their needs,\"
\nWolfensohn said after meeting with Susilo.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/global-leaders-offer-sympathy-and-help-to-indonesia-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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