In connection with the tragic earthquake that hit the Yogyakarta and Central Java Provinces on May 27th, 2006, the President of the Republic of Italy, H.E. Giorgio NAPOLITANO, sent a message of condolences to H.E. the President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. President Napolitano underlined that Italy feels deeply close to the Indonesian population and reaffirmed the strong ties of friendship and cooperation existing between the two Countries.
The Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Massimo D’ALEMA, also sent a message along the same lines to his counterpart, H.E. Dr. N. Hassan Wirajuda, expressing his personal grief for this new tragedy that again struck Indonesia. Moreover, Foreign Minister D’Alema stated Italy’s readiness to stand by Indonesia and to take part in the aid programmes and the reconstruction efforts, for the benefit of the affected population. To this effect, an aircraft transporting a first aid emergency kit of the value of approximately 190.000 USD is ready to take off from the Humanitarian Deposit of Brindisi (Italy). The aircraft contains diesel generators, water pumps and purification unit, multipurpose tents, blankets, collapsible water container, kitchen sets, etc.
The Embassy of Italy maintains close coordination with the BAKORNAS, both in Jakarta and in Yogyakarta, and with the Office of H.E. the Governor of Yogyakarta, in order to ensure the swift delivery and efficient distribution of the first emergency kit to the affected population.
