President removes Mount Agung emergency status

Indonesian President Joko Widodo agrees on the removal of Mount Agung`s emergency status at Karangasem town during the closed door meeting on tourism with various ministers here on Friday.

"But the refugees would still be handled in a well manner. As well as the process if Mount Agung shows a rising in activities, all evacuation process, safety is still our first priority," President said after leading a meeting at Ministry of Public Works and Housing`s Wisma Diklat Werdhapura, Sanur, Denpasar.

On the other side, President also asks Tourism Ministry and other relevant ministries to asks the tourism people, travels and airlines to keep promoting and giving information regarding Indonesia`s tourism especially Bali.

"So the target number of tourists would fill our expected number," President said.

President Joko Widodo also asks Foreign Ministry and Tourism Ministry to keep providing information to the ambassadors so their people could visit Indonesia, especially Bali.

Meanwhile, Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika stated that the logistic assistance would still be provided to the evacuates even though the emergency status already lifted.

"Because the emergency status does not say that Bali`s situation is not good, it was just for the logistical aspects, it does not mean that the situation is bad in Bali," Mayor said.

For the evacuates` logistics, Pastika added, first it would use the Bali`s government food stocks as much as 200 tonnes and the stocks owned by Karangasem Town with 100 tonnes, and would asks more supplies to Ministry of Social affairs if necessary.

"Until now it seems the emergency situation is applied to all of Bali, which makes several countries issued a travel ban, travel warning, travel advisory and so on, the reality is the emergency status is just for the evacuates and logistics," Pastika added

Source: ANTARA