ANNEX I

Welcoming Remark 

By Ms. Linggawaty Hakim

Director for Non-UN Economic, Financial and Development Cooperation,

Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

Director of Non-Aligned Movement Centre for South-South Technical Cooperation 

At the Opening Session of the Inter-Governmental Meeting of Experts

to Formulate “Psychosocial Programme for Rehabilitation of

Tsunami Survivors”

(Jakarta, 4 April 2005)

Excellency Mr. Sudjadnan Parnohadiningrat, Secretary General for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

Excellencies, Representatives of the Foreign Missions and International Organizations,

Distinguished Experts and Participants,

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Good Morning, 

It is indeed a distinct honour for me, on behalf of the Organizing Committee: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and the Non Aligned Movement Centre for South-South Cooperation (NAM CSSTC), to welcome you all to this opening ceremony of an important Inter-Governmental Meeting of Experts to Formulate Psychosocial Programme for Rehabilitation of Tsunami Survivors. At the outset, I should thank you all for your full support in organizing this meeting. I should also extend my high appreciation to the experts of different countries and international institutions for participating in this meeting, to share different perspectives, knowledge, and concrete experiences on psychosocial issues. 

Our meeting today would not be possible without all your support. The organizing committee should like to express profound gratitude to the Ministry of Health, Ministry of National Education, Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Social Affairs, the WHO and UNICEF, who have been working with us in preparing the basic substance for technical deliberations of this expert meeting. 

We are very much encouraged by the fact that so many tsunami survivors need more attention from psychosocial professionals. Our meeting is held to address this crucial issue and needs. It should also be considered as a follow up action of the global commitment expressed in other preceding international conferences and meetings to provide comprehensive post disaster assistance for tsunami victims. Therefore it is timely for us to work together to formulate appropriate and workable programmes for those in needs. I hope the outcome of this meeting could be further developed technically at the operational level. 

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

          Today we have a number of highly skilled experts who come from different part of the world, not only from the affected countries such as India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Indonesia, but also from experienced countries such as Australia, Iran, Japan, Turkey, and USA. We are also supported by the presence of experts from international organizations and institutions such as WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO, USAID, AUSAID, USAID, Indonesia Partnership for Reconstruction and Development, Kanto Medical Centre of Japan, General Hospital of Batticaloa, and Turkish Red Crescent; as well as from academic institutions such as the University of Queensland, Idaho State University, and University of Indonesia.  

          With the participation of these competent experts in the field, I am convinced that our meeting will be very productive as a forum of exchange of views and sharing of experience among experts. The objective of the meeting is: (i) to get common understanding of the psychosocial support in complex emergency; (ii) to share country experience in dealing with psychosocial problems in the aftermath of tsunami; (iii) to identifty existing psychosocial problems and improve inter-sectoral collaboration among major stakeholders in the provision of psychosocial support; and (iv) to design programmes and recommendation for the affected countries as well as the international community to undetake specific measures and assistance to tsunami survivors. 

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,  

We sincerely hope that this meeting of highly qualified and competent experts would be able to achieve its objectives, and our endeavour would be recognized as a supportive contribution to tsunami survivors. 

Finally, I wish you all the best and success. 

Thank you.