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.