President: RI must encourage Copenhagen meet to reach consensus

SBY PRESIDENCY. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Sunday Indonesia must be able to be part of a solution if the ongoing UN climate change talks in Copenhagen come to a standstill.

"I have written to the Danish prime minister informing him of the Indonesian proposal and to offer an alternative in case of a deadlock. And he has given a positive response," Yudhoyono said aboard a plane before making a stopover in Dubai en route to Brussels.

It is likely the Copenhagen meeting will become tough with participating countries getting embroiled in heated talks, he said.

"I predict it will become tough. Many have pinned hopes on Indonesia to be part of solution. And I will be on standby and make lobbies to get the meeting to reach a consensus," he said.

"There have been requests from several countries such as Australia, Ukraine, and Norway to always communicate (with us). We are lucky that we are taken into account at a time when the Copenhagenh meeting is under the shadow of failure," he said.

The president will visit Denmark on the last leg of his four-European nation tour which will also take him to Belgium, France and Germany.

He will visit Brussels on December 14, Paris December 15 and Germany December 16 after which he will fly to Copenhagen for the climate change talks which will bring together more than 100 world leaders.

Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said on Friday the president`s visit to Belgium, France and Germany was aimed at enhancing relations with those countries and discussing efforts to make the UN climate change talks a success.

The president`s entourage includes Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Industry Minister MS Hidayat, Trade Minister Marie Elka Pangestu, and a number of governors including Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo, Central Kalimantan Governor Agustin Teras Narang and Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf.(ANTARA News)