UI to host int'l student gathering

JAKARTA: The School of International Relations of the University of Indonesia (UI) is to host a week-long gathering of international relations students from nine countries, including Indonesia, from Sept. 4 at its Depok campus, south of here.

The organizers told a press conference on Friday that the First International Relations Student Gathering 2000 was aimed at developing the intellectual and organizational capabilities of the participants from the host country Indonesia, and Malaysia, South Korea, Brunei, China, Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Laos.

A committee member, Verena Puspawardhani, said the gathering would organize various activities, including a debating contest, excursions, and conferences.

Among the issues to be dealt with during the event, co- sponsored by The Jakarta Post and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), are the environment, gender, and drug trafficking.

"We have settled on these issues because today it seems as if international relations issues are dominated by politics and militarism," Verena told the Post.

"We think it's time that we place the environment, gender, and international drug trafficking at the center of attention," Verena added.

Head of the UI's international students' association Ahmad Yuniarsah said the outcome of the discussions would be published.

Coordinator of public relations for the event Anastasia said that the organizers had spoken to a ministry official who promised to use the results of the event as input for future policy formulation in his office.

The gathering is scheduled to be opened by Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab. Among the invited speakers is a professor at the school, Juwono Sudarsono. (jaw)