Yudhoyono Receives Medals from South Korea, UNEP

Jakarta (Antara) - Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono received two international medals from the South Korean government and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) this week. The sixth Indonesian president received the Grand Order of Mugunghwa from the South Korean government, Yudhoyono said on his official website Friday. South Korean President Park Geun-hye conferred the medal on Yudhoyono at Blue House, Seoul, Wednesday. Since Yudhoyono ended his second term of office on October 20, 2014, he has actively established international cooperation and brought the good image of the Indonesian nation in the eyes of the world community. During his 10-year rule, Yudhoyono actively forged ties between Indonesia and South Korea through bilateral cooperation and the international forum. Yudhoyono also received the Champion of the Earth 2014 for Policy Leadership from UNEP Wednesday night in the US (Thursday morning in Indonesia). The UN body awarded the medal to Yudhoyono in recognition of his positive effort to promote environmental conservation. Yudhoyono could not go in person to receive the UN award as he was in South Korea. He asked his eldest son, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, to receive the award on his behalf. (*) Reported by Panca Hari Prabowo