Minister Expects Immediate Haze Poluution Ratification

Balikpapan, E Kalimantan (Antara) - Environmental Affairs Minister Baltasar Kambuaya has expressed hope that the trans boundary haze pollution agreement will soon be ratified to handle the haze pollution from forest fires. "Only last week, it gained legislative agreement after we had been struggling hard for it since 2005, and now we hope it will soon be ratified," the minister clarified, during his working visit to East Kalimantan here, on Thursday. Balthasar noted that the ratification of trans boundary haze pollution agreement is necessary for Indonesia to strengthen its position in handling the haze pollution. "By ratifying the agreement, we can discuss the matter in a polite manner with the countries affected by haze," the minister stated. Land and forest fires frequently happen in a number of areas in Indonesia with the haze smog blanketing neighboring countries such as Singapore and Malaysia. The House earlier refused to agree on the ratification for fear of disturbing national sovereignty. Indonesia is the only country in Southeast Asia that has not ratified the agreement ever since it was signed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2002. (*)