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Minister Susi gets history lesson from Banda's 350-year-old deal
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Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti (JP/Sebastian Partogi)
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aritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti has said she only became aware of how the Banda Islands' Run was "swapped" with Manhattan on Sunday's 350th anniversary of the historic deal.
"Only today I learned that Run island was swapped with Manhattan 350 years ago," Susi said during the signing of a plaque to mark the 350th anniversary of the Treaty of Breda, which sealed the deal on July 31, 1667. Susi was joined by US Ambassador Joseph R Donovan Jr. in marking the event.
After learning about the fact, Susi said the historical deal was "extraordinary and unforgettable".
"This small island is really extraordinary. Its potential as a spice producer was once huge, which prompted the Netherlands and Britain to compete over it," she said as quoted by Antara.
Susi then jokingly asked Donovan if a new deal could be struck to swap Run for Manhattan.
She also said that more effort was needed to encourage the younger generations to learn about their country's past.
"History must be revealed because [the Run deal] allowed European and Asian countries to learn about Indonesia. In fact, an agreement from 350 years ago opened the history of New York as the heart of the United States," Susi said.
