INDONESIA SHOULD LEAD EFFORTS TO REINFORCE GLOBAL GOVERNANCE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 21 (Antara) -- Indonesia is expected to lead efforts towards the strengthening of global governance through the ongoing 60th anniversary celebrations of the Asian-African Conference (AAC).          These commemorative events, which began on April 19, will be held till April 24 in Jakarta and Bandung.          "Indonesia should lead Asian and African countries to reinforce the multilateral system of global governance," an expert of international relations Makarim Wibisono said.          Wibisono, who is also a special rapporteur of the United Nations (UN) on human rights in Palestine, added that global governance was not being carried out well currently.          The unfavorable condition of global governance was reflected in the failure of the UN in overcoming various issues and developments that have become the focus of the world's attention, such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Boko Haram in Nigeria, and the Crimea conflict in Ukraine.          "The United Nations has neither been able to overcome the ISIS issue, nor resolve the Boko Haram case and the Ukrainian separatist conflict," Wibisono remarked.

INDONESIA INCREASES GLOBAL ROLE IN ASIA-AFRICA CONFERENCE

by Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, April 17 (Antara) - The 60th anniversary celebrations of the Asia-Africa Conference (AAC), which will take place in Jakarta and Bandung from April 19 to 24, 2015, is a good opportunity for Indonesia to increase its global role.          The spirit of the first ACC, which was hosted by Indonesia in April 1955, was to stand for the freedom of Asian and African countries from colonialism.          Today, 60 years later, Asian and African countries have gained independence and colonialism has been eliminated. Yet, the spirit of the AAC must remain, albeit for different objectives, such as global welfare and progress and world peace and security.         As the host of the AAC, Indonesia can use the event as an opportunity to strengthen its role in promoting regional and international cooperation between nations.         "Indonesia should seize the opportunity to utilize the 60th anniversary commemoration forum of the AAC to lead development cooperation, particularly among the AAC member countries," Professor Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, an economic observer from the Business and Economic Faculty of Padjajaran University, stated on Friday.

AAC EXPECTED TO BOOST INDONESIA'S TOURISM

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 14 (Antara) - Besides fostering solidarity among Asian and African countries, the 60th anniversary events of the Asian-African Conference (AAC) in Jakarta and Bandung from April 19 to 24, 2015, is also expected to boost Indonesia's tourism.          Indonesia's tourism industry will gain from the meetings that will be held throughout the event as the country will be in the center of the world's attention.          Moreover, some 1,000 mass media representatives, including foreigners, will cover the events.          During the conference, Indonesia can also promote its tourism branding "Wonderful Indonesia" and its MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) programs.          Organizers have been asked to adorn the airport of Bandung, the provincial capital that hosted the first AAC in 1955, with flowers and make it more attractive.