RI welcomes Clinton's appointment<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The appointment of former U.S. president Bill Clinton as the
\nUnited Nations special envoy for tsunami relief will accelerate
\nthe realization of billions of dollars in aid pledged to
\nIndonesia and other affected countries, a foreign affairs
\nofficial says.<\/p>\n
\"We welcome the UN Secretary General (Kofi Annan)'s decision.
\n(A man of) Clinton's stature will help sustain the world's
\ninterest especially during the reconstruction phase of the
\ntsunami-hit areas,\" ministry spokesman Yuri Thamrin said in
\nJakarta on Friday.<\/p>\n
Annan named Clinton as a special envoy for tsunami relief on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
Clinton's mandate is to focus on the reconstruction of
\ndevastated areas and ensure that the international community
\nremains engaged for the long term.<\/p>\n
He is currently raising money for victims of the Dec. 26
\ndisaster after President George W. Bush chose him and former
\npresident George Bush, to head a nongovernmental fund-raising
\neffort in the United States.<\/p>\n
The Clinton Foundation last month also launched a US$45
\nmillion appeal in tandem with the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) to
\nprovide clean water and sanitation in tsunami-ravaged areas.<\/p>\n
Despite the pledges, after more than a month much aid promised
\nby international donors has yet to become a reality.<\/p>\n
While some of the biggest donors -- Australia, the United
\nStates and Japan -- have promised more than US$1 billion to
\nIndonesia between them, much of it is conditional and over the
\nlonger term.<\/p>\n
Yuri said the government was still drafting a plan for Aceh's
\nreconstruction. Once finished, it would be provided to the donor
\ncountries for perusal so they could participate in the
\nreconstruction process.<\/p>\n
\"This is about appealing to their humanitarian sensibilities
\nin the rehabilitation phase of Aceh -- but the most important
\nthing is that they (the donors) realize their promises,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"The challenge now is how to make a credible plan and offer it
\nto the donor countries so that they can feel sure about
\ndisbursing their money to Indonesia,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The National Development Planning Agency and World Bank are
\ncurrently analyzing the impact of the disaster and calculating
\nthe aid needed for the reconstruction.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-welcomes-clintons-appointment-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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