President Yudhoyono appreciates Prince Charles` efforts to save forests

11/03/08

President Yudhoyono appreciates Prince Charles` efforts to save forests

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono has expressed appreciation for the efforts of Britain's Prince Charles to save tropical rain forests and his other activities in the nature conservation field.

President Yudhoyono also appreciated Prince Charles' efforts in finding alternative sources to finance the preservation of tropical forests, presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said at Merdeka Palaca here on Monday, after accompanying President Yudhoyono at a meeting with the British crown prince.

"The President also appreciated Prince Charles' message to intensify efforts to save forests, not only in Indonesia but also in other countries having tropical rain forests. The presidential lecture (by the Prince) focused on efforts to find a creative way for funding, including from advanced countries and the private sector," Djalal said.To follow up Prince Charles' suggestions, President Yudhoyono would assign a high ranking official of the forestry ministry to join a tropical rain forest task force set up by the prince.

At the meeting, Yudhoyono and the prince also discussed the bilateral ties between Indonesia and Britain and the latter's interest in studying Islam and its relations with the West's civilization. "There is a UK-Indonesia Islamic advisory group comprising Indonesian and British Muslim figures to discuss the best ways in introducing moderate Islam and the relations between Islam and the West," he said.Prince Charles is on a five-day visit to Indonesia since Saturday. (*)
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