News, Articles & Reviews

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia and Luxemburg have agreed to seek an international solution to the food crisis which is threatening a number of countries, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said.

Wirajuda made the remarks in a joint press conference with visiting Luxemburg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn at the Pancasila Building in the Foreign Ministry compounds here on Thursday.

"We specifically discussed the issue of food crisis (with Asselborn) and agreed to call on the international community to seek a solution to it," he said.

In reaction to the threat of the food crisis, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono himself had specifically proposed to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to convene a summit aimed at seeking a solution to the issue, he said.

"Even though Indonesia is lucky to enjoy a rice surplus this year that leads to a domestic debate on the need to export or keep it in stock, the country is highly concerned about the food crisis," he said.

Meanwhile, Asselborn said African and Latin American countries would be affected the most by the food crisis as most of them depended on imports for 15-16 percent of their food needs.

He underscored the need for the world community to forge common solidarity towards the countries which are under the threat of food crisis.

The UN chief said late last month he would lead a so-called "Task Force on Global Food Crisis" aimed at coordinating the UN`s efforts to deal with global crises caused by food price hikes.

The task force will consist of chiefs of UN bodies, funds and programs, monetary institutes, UN experts and leading international institutions.

According to Ban, the UN Chief Executives Board (CEB) described the current food prices as an unprecedented global challenge.

Hence, the CEB agreed on concrete steps to be taken in the short, medium and long run.

Source