Slovakia to help RI strengthen local govts
Slovakia to help RI strengthen local govts
Veeramalla Anjaiah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
In an effort to strengthen its ties with Indonesia, Slovakia is
ready to assist and cooperate to improve local governments,
education and healthcare, a senior official from the Slovakian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in Jakarta.
"During my meeting with H.E. Indonesian Foreign Minister
Hassan Wirayuda and other officials, the Indonesian government
sought cooperation in these three areas (local governments,
education and healthcare). We are ready to work with Indonesia,"
Jozsef Berenyi, state secretary of the Slovakian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, told The Jakarta Post at the end of his visit to
Indonesia.
Berenyi and his entourage arrived in Jakarta last Wednesday to
attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-
European Union (EU) Ministerial Meeting on Thursday and left
Indonesia on Saturday.
Slovakia, according to Berenyi, has very strong local
governmental institutions and can share its experience with
Indonesia.
"Since their establishment in 1990, Slovak local governmental
institutions have been growing strongly. They are working
perfectly. I heard Indonesia just implemented the law on regional
autonomy just three years ago. We can cooperate in this area,"
The 37-year-old political appointee, said.
Indonesia enacted the law on regional autonomy in 2001 and it
became effective in 2002.
Berenyi, a former member of parliament, said his government
was planning to build a school in Aceh.
"We will also offer our cooperation in education and
healthcare. We are still waiting for the Indonesian government's
approval to build the school," he said.
Slovakia's Ambassador to Indonesia Peter Holasek said the
construction of the school in Banda Aceh would cost US$200,000.
The Dec. 26 tsunami tragedy, which killed nearly 300,000
people in 12 countries, touched the hearts and minds of Slovakian
people.
"Ours is a small country of 5.4 million people. For the first
time in the history of Slovakia, people collected more money in
donations for the tsunami victims than the amount government
donated. It is the first time that ever happened," Berenyi said.
The Slovakian government and people have so far contributed
more than $3.1 million for tsunami victims across Asia.
"Our government has donated $1.5 million and the public has
donated another $1.6 million to tsunami victims in Indonesia and
other countries. We have just shipped $250,000 worth of
humanitarian aid to Indonesia from Hamburg (Germany) and it will
be here by end of this month. But it's not the last of it. We
will allocate more money, if it is required during the
reconstruction process," Berenyi said while adding that his
foreign minister would visit Indonesia in the near future to
strengthen ties between the two countries.
He said Slovakia, a member of the EU, can allocate more money
for Indonesia through OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development).
According to Berenyi, Slovakia can become a logistical center
for Indonesian products destined for Europe.
"With just 5.4 million people, Slovakia may not be an
attractive market for Indonesia. But it can be a good logistical
center for Indonesian goods destined for Central and Eastern
Europe. From our country, it will be easy to access so many
markets in Europe, Berenyi added.