"In the Indonesian government`s view, the N7W has acted beyond the limits of propriety and unreasonably by linking the status of the Komodo National Park as a finalist to the offer to host the event to announce the winners. To host the event, the government would have to pay a license fee of US$10 million. In addition it would also have to bear the organizing costs such as production, the venue`s rent, and other expenses, altogether adding up to a total of US$ 45 million," the Tourism and Culture Ministry said in a press statement issued here on Thursday.
The government maintains that the selection of New7Wonders finalists should be based on their uniqueness and the extent of the world community`s support and not on a country`s ability to pay the cost of hosting the winners declaration event amounting to millions of dollars, the statement said.
The government had already met all the requirements for the Komodo National Park to become a finalist in the campaign by officially supporting Indonesia`s three nominees, namely the Komodo National Park, Lake Toba and Mount Anak Krakatau in August 2008, the statement said quoting Tourism and Culture Minister Jero Wacik.
The government had also registered itself as an Official Supporting Committee and acceded to the Standard Participation Agreement under which it had to pay US$ 199 for each of Indonesia`s nominees. .
The minister also maintained that Indonesia had never made an agreement with the N7W steering committees and other parties except the contract written in the Standard Participation Agreement.
He said Indonesia would continue to promote Komodo National Park as a world heritage as determined by the United Nations Educations, Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1991. (*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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