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