Berlin impresses Governor Sutiyoso
JAKARTA (JP): What's Governor Sutiyoso done so far on his two- week official trip to Turkey, Rotterdam and Berlin?
According to Antara, while in Berlin, the governor was stunned by the rapid but well-integrated development of the city which -- in his opinion -- does not need to scare the landscape by demolishing any historical structures.
"The combination of the buildings of the past and modern structures with the splendid support of the underground and on- the-ground transportation system could become a powerful magnet, making Berlin a center for economic and cultural interests in the year 2000," he told a lunch hosted by Berlin Governor Eberhard Diepgen on Tuesday.
The other "precious experiences" during his visit to Berlin included being introduced to the city's transportation network, water reserves, nature conservation and the process of recycling industrial and household waste, the governor said.
"I really hope that the breakthrough recorded by the City of Berlin in various sectors can be learned by Jakarta," Sutiyoso told the gathering at the city's Gastehaus Senat in Berlin.
In his welcome speech, Governor Diepgen told his guests from Jakarta that the involvement of local residents was the most important element in the concept of Berlin's development.
Diepgen also stated that Berlin would be ready at any time to help Jakarta develop a subway.
"I want to stress here that we're ready to give a hand for the realization of the project," the Berlin governor said, without further explanation.
As reported earlier, Sutiyoso -- who often calls Jakartans "my people" and considers himself their "leader" -- was on his Oct. 19 to Oct. 30 trip with former head of the city's bureau for intercity and regional cooperation, Robert P. Silalahi, and one of the governor's adjutants.
His itinerary while in European cities has not been disclosed, although he will sign a letter of intent on trade, tourism, and art and culture in Istanbul and pay a courtesy call on Rotterdam Mayor H.J. Simons.
It is also unclear whether he was successful in attracting foreign investors to do businesses in Jakarta, which has been badly hit by the economic crisis, as expected by councilors.
The trip is aimed mainly at strengthening the sister-city cooperation program with Jakarta.
He went to Berlin at the invitation of his counterpart, Diepgen.
Prior to attending the lunch, Sutiyoso was honored by the Berlin authorities to sign and write down his impression of the Goldene Buch (Golden Book) of Berlin.
In his words, Sutiyoso expressed a strong wish that the sister-city program of Berlin and Jakarta, an agreement on which was signed on April 13, 1994, could be further strengthened and "closer" in the future.
During his meeting with Berlin's senator for internal affairs, Jorg Schonbohm, Sutiyoso was told that the German government had agreed to train two senior police officers from Indonesia on crime investigation.
Sutiyoso said that he was advised by National Police chief Lt. Gen. Roesmanhadi to ask the German authorities for information about the matter. (bsr)