RI to seek aid for highway

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Indonesia's ambassador to Papua New Guinea (PNG) has pledged to find a financial backer for the construction of a highway linking Irian Jaya's provincial capital to the Papua New Guinean town of Vanimo.

Ambassador Benny Mandalika made the pledge during a border liaison meeting held here recently, chief of the Indonesian delegation to the meeting, Basyir Bachtiar, was quoted by Antara as saying yesterday.

Bachtiar quoted the ambassador as saying that financial aid from a foreign institution could speed up the construction of facilities and infrastructure in Jayapura and Vanimo for the benefit of their people.

He added that the current road was already frequently used by people living between the two cities.