Global leaders offer sympathy and help to Indonesia

Global leaders offer sympathy and help to Indonesia

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The leaders of dozens of countries are flying in to Indonesia
bearing funds, heavy equipment and other aid for relief and
reconstruction efforts in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam and North
Sumatra.

In bilateral meetings with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,
world leaders conveyed sympathy and offered various forms of
assistance, in a show of global solidarity for the tsunami-
stricken areas and people.

Susilo received on Wednesday South Korean Prime Minister Lee
Hae-chan, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Chinese
Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, Myanmar Prime Minister Soe Win,
Australian Prime Minister John Howard and the United States
Secretary of State Colin Powell.

South Korea pledged to loan one Landing Ship Tank -- an
amphibious ship with the capacity to carry up to 29 tanks and 350
troops -- which will be on stand-by off the Meulaboh coast to
support reconstruction efforts and deliver heavy equipment.

Meanwhile, the World Bank has promised additional grants, and
has already submitted a US$25 million grant proposal to its
central council.

World Bank President James Wolfensohn said the bank was ready
to provide three kinds of assistance besides the grant, such as
low- or no-interest loans with a 30-year repayment term.

"We just want to let the Indonesian government know that the
money is there for them to use in accordance with their needs,"
Wolfensohn said after meeting with Susilo.