President Yudhoyono opens summit on coral triangle

Adianto P. Simamora ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Manado   |  Fri, 05/15/2009 5:21 PM  |  World Ocean Conference

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Friday officially opened a summit on Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) and called for six member countries to take actions in safeguarding coral reef as marine species vulnerable with climate change impacts.

In his opening speech, Yudhoyono offered Indonesia to host a permanent CTI secretariat to support the implementation of regional plan of action.

"If the other coral triangle countries accept this offer, we are prepared to provide full financial support for the day-to-day operations of the secretariat," he told the summit.

"I am also please to announce that the Indonesian Government is now ready to pledge US$5 million (Rp 52,075 billion) for the CTI program," he said.

Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Malaysia PM Najib Tun Abdul Razak, Papua New Guinea PM Michael Somore, Solomon Islands PM Derek Sikua, and Timor Leste President Jose Ramos Horta attended the summit.

The six head of states also launched CTI regional actions plan.
 

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