Lake Toba summit aims for sustainable development<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan<\/p>\n
Leaders from 43 countries have confirmed participation in the
\nthree-day Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable
\nDevelopment conference in North Sumatra with the theme, \"Global
\nPartnership on Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Post-Disaster
\nSettlements\".<\/p>\n
The leaders, including East Timor President Xanana Gusmao and
\nformer Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, are scheduled
\nto attend the summit, which will be opened by President Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono on March 10.<\/p>\n
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was earlier
\nreported to be coming, could not make it due to a schedule
\nconflict.<\/p>\n
North Sumatra Governor T. Rizal Nurdin said some 400
\nparticipants from 43 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and North
\nAmerica, would be attending the event.<\/p>\n
\"Some foreign ministers have also confirmed that they will be
\nattending the event. This is interesting because apart from
\ngovernors, businesspeople and academics, many foreign ministers
\nwill also speak during this meeting,\" he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The event is being organized by the North Sumatra provincial
\nadministration with support from the United Nations Institute for
\nTraining and Research, the United Nations Human Resettlement
\nProgram and the United Nations Environment Program.<\/p>\n
It will take place in three areas of the province, Medan,
\nBrastagi in Karo regency and Prapat in Simalungun regency. A
\nbusiness forum will be held in Medan, while government officials
\nwill meet in Prapat and the academics will meet in Brastagi.<\/p>\n
Rizal said the event was expected to strengthen communication
\nas well as serving as a forum to share experiences in
\nimplementing sustainable development programs.<\/p>\n
The network was first set up in 2002 in Johannesburg, with 38
\nmember countries -- both developed and developing countries --
\nacross the world.<\/p>\n
Since it was set up, the network has held conferences in
\nseveral countries, with the first in San Sebastian, Spain in
\nMarch 2003 and the second in Freemantle, Australia in September
\n2003. The third conference was held in Cardiff, Wales.<\/p>\n
\"In the upcoming summit, the participating governors will
\nannounce the Lake Toba Call declaration,\" Rizal explained.<\/p>\n
During the summit, the leaders are also expected to take part
\nin a regreening movement, he said. Citing examples, he said that
\nthe leaders were scheduled to open the United Nations Park in
\nMuara, Tapanuli Utara regency as well as a research and education
\npark in Aek Nauli.<\/p>\n
\"For the regreening project in Muara, they will plant 100
\ntrees from 10 different species and 100 trees from 26 species in
\nAek Nauli at a research and education center,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ninety percent of the summit's preparation was complete,
\nincluding infrastructure and security. Some participants started
\narriving in the city on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Chief of the North Sumatra police, Insp. Gen. Iwan
\nPanjiwinata, said he would deploy over 3,500 officers to
\nsafeguard the summit.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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