National

European Commission Ready to Help Nias
Wednesday, 30 March, 2005 | 21:00 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Jean Breteche, Ambassador of the European Commission to Indonesia, has said that the European Union is ready to provide help to the Indonesian government in handling the post earthquake situation on Nias Island, and on the West coast of Sumatra.
According to Breteche, the European Union has a team that is ready to help in the disaster area.
“They are ready to fly whenever they are needed,” Breteche told members of the press after meeting with Vice President Jusuf Kalla, in the vice presidential office, Jakarta (30/3).

Some members of this team from the European Union are in fact already in NAD Province to handle victims of last year’s earthquake and tsunami waves disaster.
If necessary, some members of the team can be transferred to Nias.
However, Breteche admitted that as yet there were no confirmed details of the real situation in the field.

During the meeting with the Vice President, Breteche said that the European Commission had suggested that working commitment with Indonesia be renewed.
The last cooperation agreement was signed around 20 years ago.
According to Breteche, both sides can develop cooperation in many sectors including law enforcement, tourism and security, as well as increased investment.
“We are ready to negotiate with the Indonesian government. We will however never force ourselves upon anyone,” said Breteche.

Budi Riza