Yogya, Savannah forge ties

Yogya, Savannah forge ties

YOGYAKARTA: Yogyakarta Mayor Herry Zudanto and the mayor of
Savannah, Georgia, Michael Brown, signed an 18-month cooperation
pact to develop the quality of public services in both cities.

A memorandum of understanding on the cooperation was signed
last Thursday by Herry and Brown in Yogyakarta during a ceremony
attended by U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Ralph L. Boyce.

"These two cities from opposite sides of the world have come
together to seek a global solution to local problems," Boyce said
during the ceremony.

Also present were Yogyakarta Deputy Major Sukri Fadholi and
the speaker of the city's legislative council, Bahtanisar
Baasyir.

Under the agreement, the two cities emphasized their desire to
encourage and develop tourism, including exchanges to protect and
preserve the cities' unique and historical sites.

The agreement between Yogyakarta and Savannah is the ninth
partnership under the Indonesian Resource Cities program
developed by the U.S. Agency for International Development and
the International City/County Management Association.

Herry said Yogyakarta could learn much from Savannah's years
of experience in decentralization.

"We will take away many benefits from this partnership," he
said. --JP