PI PRESIDENT ARROYO TO ATTEND WOC, CTI SUMMIT

Manado, North Sulawesi, Feb. 14 (ANTARA) - Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will attend the World Ocean Conference and the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) Summit to be held in Manado, May 11-15, 2009.

President Arroyo had expressed her readiness to participate in the international event to the Indonesian government, North Sulawesi Vice Governor Freddy Sualang, said here on Friday.
Lalu Malik Patarwana, Indonesian Consul General in Davao conveyed the confirmation of President Arroyo's participation when he visited Manado recently, Sualang said.
The neighboring country was interested in joining the conference in Manado which will discuss efforts to curb the impact of global warming and crimes in marine areas.
CTI has six member countries, namely the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, and Solomon Island. Australia and the United States are observers of CTI.
The WOC is expected to be attended by several heads of state and 1,500 marine experts.
The WOC Organizing Committee has received 900 scientific papers to be discussed in the WOC and CTI Summit, according to Noldy Tuerah, an official of the North Sulawesi authorities.
More than 2,500 delegates from 121 countries will participate in the event.