Yogyakarta and Baalbek to Become Sister Cities
Monday, 27 October, 2008 | 13:39 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Yogyakarta: Yogyakarta city government on Saturday last week (25/10) signed a sister city agreement in the fields of economy and culture with the city of Baalbek, Lebanon.

“We expect that the agreement will give advantages to both cities. Baalbek and Yogyakarta are similar in various aspects,” said Yogyakarta Mayor, Herry Zudianto.

Baalbek Mayor Bassam Raad explained that Yogyakarta is one of the oldest cities in Indonesia and full of history, similar to Baalbek.

“It is a historical moment for Baalbek to have the cooperation of a sister city for the first time with the city where Islam is the major religion,” he said.

Bassam mentioned several sectors would be developed under the agreement including the economic sector.

The Baalbek government has prepared a trading house as a showroom for handicrafts from Yogyakarta.

MUH SYAIFULLAH