President Holds Dialogue With Governors

Jakarta, Dec 10 (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono conducted a dialogue with all governors at the Bogor Presidential Palace in West Java on Tuesday before presenting the 2014 Budget Allocation List (DIPA). "Amidst the busyness of our respective tasks, we meet today for two important agenda. First is a dialogue between you and I, and the second is the presentation of the 2014 Budget Allocation List later in the afternoon," the President said while opening the dialogue. The head of the state is scheduled to present the DIPA to the representatives of the country`s provinces, ministries, non-ministerial state institutions and a number of other state institutions. President Yudhoyono was accompanied by a number of cabinet ministers, including Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam, and other officials on the occasion. The President urged the governors for stepping up cooperation between the central and regional governments and said it will be crucial for the success of the implementation of government programs. "The implementation of government programs and their progress for improving the welfare of our people will be determined by all officials at the central, provincial, and regional levels," he noted. Yudhoyono added that if the system worked well, the implementation of programs from the central to the local levels would be effective and their targets would be met. "This is our own country, our own government. We wish that our system works well. Apart from that, the implementation of all policies or programs must also be carried out well. I can understand if during implementation, one encounters one or two problems, which might result in all program targets not being fully achieved. Even at a national level, things like that happen. We all understand it. We are on the same boat and we certainly wish all to be successful," he stated. The President is scheduled to end his term in October next year and will not be seeking re-election as he has been in power for the last two terms.