Joint Announcement - The President of The Republic of Indonesia and The President of The World Bank on Indonesia-World Bank Cooperation

New York - 25 September 2007

Related Links

Bank, UN Push global drive to recover stolen assets Zoellick says developed & developing countries must work as partners to end looting. Read More..   Release | Speech   Report | Summary   Webcast | Podcast   Tempo Magazine Interview

1. The President of the Republic of Indonesia and the President of the World Bank met in New York on 25 September 2007 on the sidelines of the 62nd United Nations General Assembly. They discussed various matters of common interest including the World Bank partnership strategy in Indonesia, the newly launched StAR (Stolen Asset Recovery) Initiative by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime and the World Bank, and Indonesia’s leadership role on environment and climate change.

2. The Government of Indonesia and the World Bank pledged to work together on a new Country Partnership Strategy to support Indonesia’s own development priorities in the years ahead in particular in the areas of poverty reduction, governance reform, environmental sustainability, infrastructure investment and private sector development.

3. On the issue of StAR Initiative, both sides underlined that this Initiative is an innovative and unique program that allows both developing and developed countries to benefit in the context of the implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) 2003.

4. In recent years Indonesia has made significant strides in fighting corruption.  As a State Party to the UNCAC 2003 and the host of the upcoming Second Session of States Parties to the UNCAC 2003 which will be held in Bali, Indonesia, 28 January-1 February 2008,  Indonesia has expressed its interest to participate in the StAR Initiative in order to strengthen its capacity to implement Chapter V on Asset Recovery of the UNCAC 2003, especially in tracing, freezing and returning assets located in foreign jurisdictions. A joint mission of the World Bank and the UNODC will visit Indonesia to further develop specific technical assistance programs under the StAR Initiative.

5. Both leaders also urge the developed countries to take all neccessary efforts to ensure that the world financial centers are not safe havens for corrupt monies stolen from developing countries.

6. Indonesia will host the 13th Conference of Parties (COP) meeting on the United Nations Convention on Climate Change in Bali in December 2007. Both leaders recognized the critical importance of this conference to  foster global consensus on climate issues. In preparation of the Bali conference, Indonesia is taking the lead in launching important initiatives to reduce emissions from deforestation.  Indonesia is also launching the development of its first low carbon growth strategy to reduce the carbon intensity of its development path, identify opportunities for climate change mitigation and adaptation, and manage the financing implications of shifting to cleaner carbon development activities. The World Bank pledged its technical and financial support for these initiatives as part of its broader support for Indonesia’s development agenda.