Jakarta Globe, Lenny Tristia Tambun, January 03, 2013
Jakarta governor Joko Widodo. (JG Photo/Safir Makki). |
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In a
symbolic gesture of camaraderie, the Jakarta administration announced on
Thursday that it plans to form a sister city partnership with Jerusalem in the
near future.
Jakarta
Governor Joko Widodo said that his government will solidify the partnership plan
in various areas, though it will mainly focus on staff exchange between Jakarta
and Jerusalem.
“I met with
the Palestinian Ambassador, [since] we have a partnership with Palestine. We
want to speak more concretely about what will be implemented soon,” Joko said
at City Hall on Thursday.
At the
meeting, the Jakarta administration and its Palestinian counterpart agreed to
increase capacity building and implement an exchange program in order for the
two to learn from each other's strengths and weaknesses.
“Yes, we
[will] send people [to Palestine]. We [will] have an exchange program to learn,
for instance, about fire safety, democracy, urban planning and public works,”
the governor said.
Joko added
that he will follow-up the plan with concrete action.
“The
[Palestinian] ambassador wanted a solid partnership and we will follow-up. [We]
don’t want it to be only on paper,” Joko explained.
“I told the
ambassador that it will be implemented after my 100 days in the office. I want
to concentrate more on [my] 100 days of work,” Joko said, referring to the 100
days since he took office in October of last year.
The
Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia, Fariz N. Mehdawi, noted that Jakarta is a
big city and faces great developmental challenges ahead.
“Of course I
support Jokowi to succeed in his mission — he has challenges. But I’m certain
he will live up to his promise and not disappoint … I hope the best for him,”
Fariz said, referring the Jakarta governor by his nickname.
The most
important thing, Fariz added, is to discuss the future relationship between
Palestine and Indonesia.
According
to Fariz, Palestine now is undergoing capacity building training in which more
than 500 Palestinians are coming to visit Indonesia — most of them to Jakarta —
to receive instruction. The participants will meet Joko and other regional
heads, along with Jakarta Fire Agency and Disaster Mitigation Agency officials.
“Experts
will discuss how to run partnership programs between the two capital cities,”
he said.
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