Lake Toba summit aims for sustainable development

Lake Toba summit aims for sustainable development

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan

Leaders from 43 countries have confirmed participation in the
three-day Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable
Development conference in North Sumatra with the theme, "Global
Partnership on Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Post-Disaster
Settlements".

The leaders, including East Timor President Xanana Gusmao and
former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, are scheduled
to attend the summit, which will be opened by President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono on March 10.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was earlier
reported to be coming, could not make it due to a schedule
conflict.

North Sumatra Governor T. Rizal Nurdin said some 400
participants from 43 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and North
America, would be attending the event.

"Some foreign ministers have also confirmed that they will be
attending the event. This is interesting because apart from
governors, businesspeople and academics, many foreign ministers
will also speak during this meeting," he told The Jakarta Post.

The event is being organized by the North Sumatra provincial
administration with support from the United Nations Institute for
Training and Research, the United Nations Human Resettlement
Program and the United Nations Environment Program.

It will take place in three areas of the province, Medan,
Brastagi in Karo regency and Prapat in Simalungun regency. A
business forum will be held in Medan, while government officials
will meet in Prapat and the academics will meet in Brastagi.

Rizal said the event was expected to strengthen communication
as well as serving as a forum to share experiences in
implementing sustainable development programs.

The network was first set up in 2002 in Johannesburg, with 38
member countries -- both developed and developing countries --
across the world.

Since it was set up, the network has held conferences in
several countries, with the first in San Sebastian, Spain in
March 2003 and the second in Freemantle, Australia in September
2003. The third conference was held in Cardiff, Wales.

"In the upcoming summit, the participating governors will
announce the Lake Toba Call declaration," Rizal explained.

During the summit, the leaders are also expected to take part
in a regreening movement, he said. Citing examples, he said that
the leaders were scheduled to open the United Nations Park in
Muara, Tapanuli Utara regency as well as a research and education
park in Aek Nauli.

"For the regreening project in Muara, they will plant 100
trees from 10 different species and 100 trees from 26 species in
Aek Nauli at a research and education center," he said.

Ninety percent of the summit's preparation was complete,
including infrastructure and security. Some participants started
arriving in the city on Tuesday.

Chief of the North Sumatra police, Insp. Gen. Iwan
Panjiwinata, said he would deploy over 3,500 officers to
safeguard the summit.