President Inaugurates Sail Komodo 2013

Labuan Bajo (Antara Bali) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono inaugurated the Sail Komodo 2013 peak event in Pede Beach in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara province, on Saturday.

The President pressed the button to mark the inauguration of the peak event, which brings together some 106 yachts from 26 countries.

Also present were First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono, Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Syarif C Sutarjo and East Nusa Tenggara Governor Frans Lebu Raya.

Other ranking officials attending the opening included State Reforms Minister Azwar Abubakar, Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan, Social Service Minister Salim Segaf Al Jufri, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Marie Elka Pangestu, National Defense Forces (TNI) chief General Moeldoko, National Police chief General Timur Pradopo, Attorney General Basrie Arief, and a number of lawmakers and ambassadors.

Sail Komodo is the fifth sailing event held in Indonesia after Sail Bunaken in North Sulawesi province in 2009, Sail Banda in Maluku province in 2010, Sail Wakatobi and Bitong in Southeast Sulawesi province in 2011 and Sail Morotai in North Maluku in 2012.

Earlier on Friday, President Yudhoyono officially named Komodo National Park, which is home to some of the world's largest lizards - the Komodo dragons, as a world heritage site. (*/DWA)