Swiss Embassy clarifies

We refer to the article in The Jakarta Post on Sept. 7, 2001 entitled Teachers key to education quality: Swiss minister.

In order to avoid a possible misunderstanding, the Swiss Embassy in Jakarta wants to clarify that the person mentioned in the article about the Swiss German University (SGU), Mr. Hans Ulrich Stoeckling, is not the Education Minister of Switzerland. Mr. Stoeckling is a member of the Governing Council of the Swiss Canton (Province) St. Gall, responsible for educational matters. Mr. Stoeckling is also chairman of the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education EDK/CDIP, which is a body composed of members of the regional governments in charge of education. EDK/CDIP is therefore not an organ of the Swiss Federal Government. The discussions held by Mr. Stoeckling in Jakarta were therefore not part of an official visit of the Swiss Federal Government.

Furthermore, the Embassy of Switzerland wishes to correct the information given to readers of the Post concerning the involvement of the Swiss government in the SGU. After an assessment of this private project the competent authority of the Swiss Federal Government (State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, SECO) decided not to support the Swiss German University in Jakarta.

GERARD FONJALLAZ

Ambassador

Swiss Embassy

Jakarta

Note: Thank you for your correction. -- Editor