Biodiversity Convention

Biodiversity Convention

Some rectifications are due to what I perceive as inaccuracies
in The Jakarta Post's reporting as it was published on Oct. 24,
1995, on the forthcoming UN Conference on the Biodiversity
Convention next month.

I did say that the whole series of events during the UN
Conference should be held according to internationally accepted
norms of behavior. Contrary to the report, I told the chief
editors during a Department of Information meeting on Oct. 23,
1995, that Indonesian officials should refrain from interfering
with NGO meetings, except in cases where such interference is
clearly called for. I made it clear that it will be up to the
organizers, in this case the Biodiversity Foundation, and the
participants themselves to keep the NGO conference on track. How
they conduct the meeting and what they discuss is not a matter of
security and public order, and it is not the business of my
ministry or other government institutions to interfere with what
people are saying or how they say things.

The government's role as the host is to facilitate, not to
make people miserable just because they choose to say things
which may be unflattering. I trust the participants to do
whatever is necessary to make the meeting fruitful.

I did refer to the World Conference on Women in Beijing as an
example where China did not receive good international press.
Contrary to what you published, I did point out that Egypt did
not suffer from an unfavorable international image related to the
Conference on Population held in Cairo. In agreeing to host the
Biodiversity Conference, Indonesia runs the risk of facing
criticism on environmental matters from people, whether they be
visitors or Indonesians. In the field of environment, no nation
can claim a perfect score, and Indonesia is no exception. Let us
take things in stride and make sure that we are mature enough to
bear a diversity of opinions.

SARWONO KUSUMAATMADJA

State Minister for

Environment, Jakarta