Berlin impresses Governor Sutiyoso
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)