JAKARTA GEARS UP FOR REALIZATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS by Fardah

      Jakarta, April 14, 2011 (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa and Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo have lately been busy discussing preparations for the implementation of infrastructure projects in Jakarta.
       They have given extra attention to the infrastructure projects after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had made a harsh criticism on stalled infrastructure development plans particularly in the capital city which is notorious for grave traffic jams.

RI CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE IN LIBYA by Fardah

       Jakarta, April 12, 2011 (ANTARA) - In line with the African Union`s proposed-Road Map to end conflicts in Libya, Indonesia has also called for immediate cease-fire and dialogs between the Muammar Gaddafi camp and the rebels.
       The most recent call for cease-fire was voiced by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono together with Turkish President Abdullah Gul in their joint statement on Libya issued when Gul was visiting Jakarta on April 5, 2011.

TRADE VALUE OF INDONESIA-TURKEY INCREASES: ENVOY

     Jakarta, April 7, 2011 (ANTARA) - The value of Indonesia-Turkey trade was recorded at 1.7 billion US dollars in 2010, up from 1.2 billion US dollars in 2009, according to an Indonesian ambassador.

          "Since the visit of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to Turkey in June 2010 up to the visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gul to Indonesia this week, there has been progresses in the bilateral trade value," Indonesian Ambassador to Turkey Nahari Agustini said here Thursday.

PRESIDENT GUL'S HISTORIC VISIT BOOSTS BILATERAL TIES by Fardah

      Jakarta, April 7, 2011 (ANTARA) - Turkish President Abdullah Gul concluded his three-day state visit to Indonesia on Wednesday afternoon (April 6) after signing a number of agreements that will bring the bilateral ties between Turkey and Indonesia much closer.
       President Gul`s visit was successful as it was marked by the signings of several agreements and MOUs, Indonesian Ambassador to Turkey Nahari Agustini said here Thursday.

FORESTS CAN'T AFFORD DELAY IN MORATORIUM'S IMPLEMENTATION by Fardah

       Jakarta, April 5, 2011 (ANTARA) - The government is supposed to impose a moratorium on deforestation starting January 2011, but it has been delayed for the last three months reportedly due to intervention from business and political interests.
      Immediate implementation of moratorium has been called for especially by environmental NGO activists to protect Indonesia`s remaining 130-million-hectare forest, which is the world`s third largest after Brazil and Congo.

SUMATRA ON ALERT AS BIRD FLU COMES BACK by Fardah

     Jakarta, April 2, 2011 (ANTARA) - The sudden death of thousands of chickens has been reported in several cities on Sumatra Island over the past several months.
     Local health authorities have confirmed that most of the chickens had died of bird flu or avian influenza (H5N1).   The poultry deaths due to bird flu have occurred among other things in the Sumatran provinces of West Sumatra, Bengkulu, Jambi and Bangka Belitung.