"He thanks especially all elements of the nation because he received he award because of the role of all parties. The government received it on behalf of the people," Julian A Pasha said here on Wednesday when accompanying the President on a visit to the Bali Collection Center.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon presented the award to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday at the opening of the 3rd Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.
President Yudhoyono was represented by the chief of the National Agency for Disaster Mitigation (BNPB), Syamsul Maarif.
Julian said the UN had given the award to President Yudhoyono because his government had been able to successfully suppress disaster risks.
"The government has taken anticipatory measures and implemented disaster mitigation efforts. BNPB is the evidence of its commitment," he said.
The announcement of the award presentation was made before 82 state delegations 17 of them led by ministers or ministerial-level officials, 24 international organizations and 2,500 delegates from across the world including the Indonesian delegation.
Ban Ki-moon said he hoped the award would become a motivation for the international community to learn the success of the Indonesian government in increasing the awareness of the people of the importance of disaster prevention and implementing it in the effective national policy.
The UN secretary general on the occasion also expressed his appreciation to the Indonesian president as a "Global Champion" in reducing the risks of disasters and implementing a policy in the field well. ***6***
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Editor: Bambang
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