Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg welcomes President Susilo Yudhoyono
on May 26, 2010 in Oslo. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said
in Oslo Wednesday that his country would introduce
a two-year moratorium on deforestation,
which contributes to global warming.
Visiting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met with Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday evening.
At their meeting at the Hagestuen Government Guest House, Yudhoyono and Stoltenberg discussed issues affecting the two countries’ bilateral relations, especially with regard to cooperation in the forestry sector.
After the 30-minute meeting which started at 3 p.m. local time (8 p.m. Western Indonesia Standard Time), the two leaders witnessed the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) on cooperation in the forestry sector.
The LOI was signed by Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa and Norwegian Environment and International Development Minister Erik Solheim.
Earlier, during his flight from Jakarta to Oslo, President Yudhoyono said Indonesia was serious about conserving its forests and contributing to the efforts to preserve environmental and climatological balance.
Yudhoyono said the seriousness was reflected by concrete action rather than mere slogans or plans to maintain the area of the country’s forests. “Therefore, I hope the central and regional governments will be fully responsible for encouraging the public to take part in ensuring the success of the endeavor. As such, we will be respected by the world community when they help us,” he said.
He said developed nations had committed to providing funds to tropical forest countries struggling to maintain their forests. “The forests are believed to contribute to the conservation of nature’s balance,” he said.
Yudhoyono arrived here at 07.00 a.m. on Wednesday for a four-day visit, during which he will attend an international conference on climate change and forests.
The conference aims to facilitate voluntary partnerships between advanced and developing countries that have tropical forests. The conference will focus on the implementation of the mechanism for reduction of emissions from deforestation and degradation in developing countries.
