US Congress to give democracy-strengthening assistance to Aceh

Banda Aceh (ANTARA News) - The US Congress is to provide Aceh Legislative Assembly members with assistance to strengthen democracy in the province, the spokesman of a visiting US Congress delegation said.

"We have come to cooperate and enhance political and democratic institutions in Aceh. The assistance for democracy is part of our program," the US Congress delegation`s spokesman, David Price, said at a meeting with Aceh Legislative Aseembly members here on Monday.

The cooperation scheme which was signed in 2006 was designed to create a strong and transparent parliamentary system, Price added.

The US Congress delegation was authorized to give assistance to all Indonesian legislative body members in terms of democratic procedures, implementation and substance, Price said.

The assistance was to be given for the benefit of both countries, he added.

Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf said after attending the meeting with the US Congress delegation, the US lawmakers were impressed by the progress Aceh had made in the years since the 2004 tsunami and armed conflict. (*) END

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