JP/10/DIPLO
France to build center in Bali
BALI: The French government plans to set up a cultural center in Bali to promote understanding of its culture, French Ambassador to Indonesia Renaud Vignal has said.
Vignal said after meeting Bali Governor Dewa Beratha in Denpasar on Thursday that the cultural center was a non-profit organization that would run educational activities, such as a French language course for elementary and junior high school students, music courses and other arts training.
The French government wanted to boost cooperation with Bali, Vignal said. "We will realize this cooperation through the establishment of Indonesian-French cultural centers. One of the them will be built in Bali," he was quoted by Antara as saying.
Bali, known as the Island of the Gods, ranks second after Jakarta in locations most frequented by the French in Indonesia. The French community in Bali comprises around 1,000 people.
The center is expected to help bridge cultural differences and attract more tourists to Bali.
Beratha showed his appreciation of the French government's interest in Bali. He also assured the ambassador that security conditions on the island were improving and asked for his assistance in the recovery of Bali's tourist industry.
The Oct. 1 bombings of three restaurants in Kuta and Jimbaran have discouraged foreign tourists from visiting Bali. The bombings killed 23 people, including three suicide bombers. -- JP
;JP;IVY; ANPAi..r.. Diplo-U.S.-Aceh
JP/10/DIPLO
U.S. gets nod to build road in Aceh
JAKARTA: Acting governor of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Azwar Abu Bakar has approved the U.S. government environmental feasibility study for the Banda Aceh-Meulaboh road reconstruction project.
The study is the first environmental impact report approved by the Indonesian government for tsunami reconstruction, the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta said in a media statement on Friday. The project is being undertaken by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
"A key part of our strategy is to ensure that rebuilding the road minimizes the adverse environmental impacts, while at the same time meets our goal to build Aceh back better," said USAID deputy director Robert Cunnane, during the signing of the report approval in Desa Deah Glumpang in Banda Aceh, in celebration of Flora and Fauna Day.
The report identifies the environmental and social impacts of the project and outlines plans to mitigate potential adverse impacts, such as changes to the landscape and ecosystem, erosion and dust created by construction.
The 240-kilometer Banda Aceh-Meulaboh road will pass through one city and three regencies: Banda Aceh, Aceh Besar, Aceh Jaya and Aceh Barat. The road, which is part of a broader development partnership between the U.S. and Indonesia, aims at restoring communication, mobility, livelihood and economic growth for the communities along the Aceh west coast, the hardest hit by the Dec. 24 tsunami. -- JP