Yudhoyono Wants Next Govt to Continue His Climate Change Policy

New York (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has expressed hope that next government will continue his policy regarding climate change issues and sustainable development. The president expressed the expectation after attending a series of sessions of the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday or on Thursday in Indonesia. On the occasion, the president explained that the world attention to climate change issues continued to increase and became one of the three main agendas discussed in the annual meeting of the United Nations. "What is being done in Indonesia is already correct. It is already on the track. I hope the next government will also have the same attention," he said. The President said Indonesia is always active with regard to climate change and environmental issues. "I have been active since 2007. The world attention to climate change is increasingly stronger," Yudhoyono said. He said that increasing attention of the world is in line with Indonesia's stance which is always active on issues related to climate change and environmental issues. "Indonesia takes full participation and is convinced that the global cooperation can be actively boosted," he added. Apart from referring to the climate summit held on Tuesday,the President also said that the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon held an informal talk on the environment with 25 world leaders. "The UN Secretary General specifically invited them and the talk with them lasted until 10 pm," President Yudhoyono remarked. On the occasion, he said, Indonesia explained its experience in hosting the Climate Change Summit in Bali and its role in the summit in Copenhagen some time ago. Looking at the global development, the President is convinced that the steps taken by the Indonesian government at home to carry out environment-oriented eco-friendly development is already correct. "What is done at home is already correct and is on the track. I hope the next government will have the same attention," he stressed. Besides attending and delivering a speech in a session of the NU General Assembly, President Yudhoyono also attended a meeting of the REDD-Plus and of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) on Wednesday. The head of state is scheduled to leave for Washington DC on Thursday morning local time or Thursday evening Jakarta time.(*)