Global cooperation sought for better environment
Global cooperation sought for better environment
JAKARTA (JP): Closer cooperation between advanced and
developing countries is the only answer to prevent environmental
degradation, the President said yesterday.
Speaking to 250 guests at the opening of the Third World
International Conference on Zero Emissions at State Palace,
President Soeharto cited resource exploitation and environmental
pollution as some of the most important issues.
He said poverty was a causes of environmental degradation in
the Third World, while a wasteful way of life in industrialized
nations led to pollution and an abuse of resources.
Soeharto warned that future generations would suffer if
ecological disruption was not stopped.
"Our children and grandchildren will live in a completely
chaotic environment," he said.
He called for international cooperation to help developing
countries reach higher economic growth and encouraged other
nations to economize their natural resources.
The three-day international conference was jointly organized
by the Ministry of Environment and the United Nations University
in Tokyo.
Fiji's President Ratu K.T.T. Mara and the university's rector,
Heitor Gurgulino de Souza, attended the conference. Namibian
President Sam Nujoma is scheduled to appear as a speaker at the
conference.
Nujoma and his entourage arrived here yesterday afternoon for
a five-day visit to attend the conference and strengthen
bilateral relations.
The president and his wife, Theopoldine K. Nujoma, were
greeted on the steps of State Palace by Soeharto, Vice President
Try Sutrisno and his wife and Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono.
Foreign Minister Ali Alatas and his wife, Yunisa, welcomed the
state guest at Halim Perdanakusuma airport.
President Soeharto underlined the importance of South-South
cooperation to his guest, while Nujoma called on Indonesian
private enterprises to invest in the landlocked country,
Moerdiono said.
"The President told Nujoma that, while little can be done from
the financial side, there is still a lot to be achieved from
experience and technical exchanges," Moerdiono said.
There are no concrete figures on trade relations between the
two countries because there is no direct trade between them.
Indonesian commodities such as textiles, sports shoes, rattan
products and instant noodles reach Namibia through South Africa.
The Namibian leader's entourage includes Minister of Foreign
Affairs Theo-Ben Gurirab, Minister of Trade and Industry Hidipo
Hamutenya and other high ranking officials.
In April, Ali Alatas and Gurirab signed an economic and
technical agreement to boost bilateral trade in Jakarta.
"The Namibian leaders told Soeharto that his country was once
the victim of apartheid and colonialism and now was concentrating
on its economic development," Moerdiono said
This morning the two leaders will hold bilateral talks. In the
afternoon Nujoma will attend a luncheon with members of the
Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In the evening
Soeharto will host a banquet to honor his guest.
On Saturday, Nujoma will visit the state-owned palm oil
plantation PTP IV in Pabatu, North Sumatra, and then spend a
night in Lake Toba, Parapat, before leaving for Bali on Sunday.
He will return home Monday. (06)