Friday, April 25, 2008
RI Ready to Host Summit on World Food, Energy Crisis
Source: Antara News

New York - Indonesian Ambassador to the United Nations Marty Natalegawa said on Tuesday, Indonesia would be ready to host a summit of world leaders on the food and energy crisis under the auspices of the United Nations.

Marty made the statement in a talk with the United Nations Correspondents Association on Indonesia's idea that the UN should hold a food and energy summit.

"There are indeed many forums discussing the issue, both the United Nations Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc) and other world bodies. The G-8 meeting next July will also discuss the crisis. We, however see there should be a meeting that will unite us more and produce a political commitment from all world leaders and to make a road map for handling the crisis both in the short and long terms," he said.

Marty added Indonesia actually wants to hold the summit as part of the UN General Assembly next September. "But we are also aware that as the time is approaching, the summit might not be held concurrently with the UN General Assembly," he added.

"If it should be held in a separate forum, we are ready to host it under the auspices of the United Nations," he added.

Marty's press conference was part of the Indonesian government's campaign to prod the United Nations as the largest world body to assume a role to obtain international commitments for handling the food and energy crisis.

A week before, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati conveyed President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's letter to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon here and World Bank President Robert Zoellick in Washington D.C.

The letter contained President Yudhoyono's concern over the world food and oil crisis and his hope that the United Nations would take a global initiative to overcome the crisis.

In the same week, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda also met with Ban Ki-moon in New York to follow up President Yudhoyono's idea on the need to hold a world leaders' summit.

Marty said he was very aware about possible objections or anxiety from some countries to participate in efforts to discus the crisis.

"It is possible a nation is afraid of being blamed and seen as having contributed to the difficult situation. But we do not have any intention to blame each other. We will invite all parties to try things that they could do to overcome the problems," he added.

Citing examples, Marty said there was still a possibility that some countries felt guilty in relation with the bio-fuel they were developing as many other parties see the possibility that the food crisis was, among others, caused by their bio-fuel development programs.

While waiting for the UN secretary general's response to the idea, Marty said, some countries had expressed support for it.

"They agree that the situation urgently needs to be addressed. Some of them even want the summit to be held as soon as possible, saying there was no need to wait until September because of the urgency of the situation," he added.