JP\/10\/DIPLO<\/p>\n
France to build
\ncenter in Bali<\/p>\n
BALI: The French government plans to set up a cultural center in
\nBali to promote understanding of its culture, French Ambassador
\nto Indonesia Renaud Vignal has said.<\/p>\n
Vignal said after meeting Bali Governor Dewa Beratha in
\nDenpasar on Thursday that the cultural center was a non-profit
\norganization that would run educational activities, such as a
\nFrench language course for elementary and junior high school
\nstudents, music courses and other arts training.<\/p>\n
The French government wanted to boost cooperation with Bali,
\nVignal said. "We will realize this cooperation through the
\nestablishment of Indonesian-French cultural centers. One of the
\nthem will be built in Bali," he was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
Bali, known as the Island of the Gods, ranks second after
\nJakarta in locations most frequented by the French in Indonesia.
\nThe French community in Bali comprises around 1,000 people.<\/p>\n
The center is expected to help bridge cultural differences and
\nattract more tourists to Bali.<\/p>\n
Beratha showed his appreciation of the French government's
\ninterest in Bali. He also assured the ambassador that security
\nconditions on the island were improving and asked
\nfor his assistance in the recovery of Bali's tourist industry.<\/p>\n
The Oct. 1 bombings of three restaurants in Kuta and Jimbaran
\nhave discouraged foreign tourists from visiting Bali. The
\nbombings killed 23 people, including three suicide bombers. -- JP<\/p>\n
;JP;IVY;
\nANPAi..r..
\nDiplo-U.S.-Aceh<\/p>\n
JP\/10\/DIPLO<\/p>\n
U.S. gets nod to
\nbuild road in Aceh<\/p>\n
JAKARTA: Acting governor of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Azwar Abu
\nBakar has approved the U.S. government environmental feasibility
\nstudy for the Banda Aceh-Meulaboh road reconstruction project.<\/p>\n
The study is the first environmental impact report approved by
\nthe Indonesian government for tsunami reconstruction, the U.S.
\nEmbassy in Jakarta said in a media statement on Friday. The
\nproject is being undertaken by the U.S. Agency for International
\nDevelopment (USAID).<\/p>\n
"A key part of our strategy is to ensure that rebuilding the
\nroad minimizes the adverse environmental impacts, while at the
\nsame time meets our goal to build Aceh back better," said USAID
\ndeputy director Robert Cunnane, during the signing of the report
\napproval in Desa Deah Glumpang in Banda Aceh, in celebration of
\nFlora and Fauna Day.<\/p>\n
The report identifies the environmental and social impacts of
\nthe project and outlines plans to mitigate potential adverse
\nimpacts, such as changes to the landscape and ecosystem, erosion
\nand dust created by construction.<\/p>\n
The 240-kilometer Banda Aceh-Meulaboh road will pass through
\none city and three regencies: Banda Aceh, Aceh Besar, Aceh Jaya
\nand Aceh Barat. The road, which is part of a broader development
\npartnership between the U.S. and Indonesia, aims at restoring
\ncommunication, mobility, livelihood and economic growth for the
\ncommunities along the Aceh west coast, the hardest hit by the
\nDec. 24 tsunami. -- JP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp10diplo-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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