SBY meets with Ahtisaari on Aceh progress

Thu, 05/08/2008 11:03 AM  |  National

JAKARTA: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono held a meeting with former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday to discuss the progress of development in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam after the 2005 Aceh Peace Agreement.

In a media conference after the meeting, State Secretary Hatta Radjasa said Ahtisaari, the initiator in the reconciliation process in Aceh, had expressed his satisfaction over the province's peaceful situation.

"He said he was impressed by development in the province, especially on how the education system in the province has managed to match graduates with requirements in the work force. He said it showed good progress after the Helsinki MOU," Hatta said.

Yudhoyono said the Indonesian government would maintain integration and peace in the province.

"The President also explained the important role of foreign aid in the province's recovery," Hatta said.

Ahtisaari, head of the Helsinki-based Crisis Management Initiative, was accompanied by Finnish Ambassador to Indonesia Antti Koistinen and World Bank's country director Joachim von Amsberg in the meeting. -- JP

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