Sideshows fail to boost Summit hype

Sideshows fail to boost Summit hype

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

If the taste of a main course is determined by its appetizers,
then the 2005 Asian-African Summit is in trouble. The series of
events which preceded the Summit apparently did not whet the
appetite of ordinary Jakartans, or, quite probably, the
international delegations.

The view in the Asian-Africa Symposium on Renewable Energy,
Asian-African Trade Fair and a workshop on the role of women and
youth aimed at furthering regional cooperation, have not aroused
the feeling that Jakarta is hosting an international event.

Javaid Shaheen of the Pakistani Embassy's handicraft
promotion, who participated in the Trade Fair, regretted the
"minimal" participation of foreign countries.

The Trade Fair had only eight foreign country participants:
Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Egypt, Laos, the
Philippines and Vietnam.

The remaining booths were filled with state-owned firms, and
those representing the National Police and Indonesian Military
(TNI).

Shaheen said that the short notice from organizers could have
deterred countries from taking part in the fair. He received less
than three weeks notice.

Organizers earlier announced that countries including Qatar,
South Africa and Iraq would take part, but they pulled out at the
last minute.

An official claimed that the event had averaged 1,000 visitors
in one day, though the venue looked relatively vacant.

The symposium and exhibition on renewable energy, held in
Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, also failed to impress the visitors.

According to Lola, a visitor from South Jakarta, the two
events in Kemayoran were not coordinated very well.

"It seems the organizers are not ready but force themselves to
hold such events anyway. It is just disappointing," she said.

Meanwhile, at Tuesday's workshop on the role of women and
youth held at the Hilton Hotel, papers were not readily available
for the media, and foreign delegates were baffled by the limited
seating.

A few Arab women looked confused and uncomfortable at having
to sit together with men.

It can only be hoped that appetizers are not too important,
considering the more than 60 heads of state from 106 countries
may just want to dive into main course in any case, after a wait
of 50 years.