MINISTER ASKS ALL PARTIES TO SUPPORT SAIL BANDA 2010

Ambon, April 17 (ANTARA) - Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad has appealed to all parties to support the international marine event Sail Banda 2010 and to make it a success.

The minister made the call when launching the event in the eastern Indonesian city of Ambon on Friday night.

"Information about the official launch of Sail Banda 2010 to night has been disseminated to Indonesian and international communities," Fadel Muhammad said.

He said the event is called Sail Banda because Banda islands have an exhilarating sense of history with countless relics scattered across the islands, serving as reminders of the days when Banda was once a valuable commodity, whose fruits were worth fighting for, especially nutmeg, mace and clove in he 16th century
were the assets which had promoted Banda islands to the most valuable real estate in the world.

Spice traders from across the globe set out in search for the original Spice Islands, in the hope of returning home with a cargo of the exotic riches.

"In the past Banda was known worldwide as spice islands," said Fadel Muhammad, the Sail Banda national committee chairman.

According to him Sail Banda would be organized with a strategic objective of promoting the undersea natural beauty of Indonesia, especially in Maluku, which is found nowhere else in the world.

The maritime affairs and fisheries minister said that with its stunning natural beauty, Maluku islands would be promoted through Sail Banda in a bid to turn it into a world-class marine tourism resort in the future.

"Sail Banda is scheduled to last from July 12 to August 17, 2010," Fadel said, adding that it would be participated in by around 200 yachts from various countries.

"Sail Banda peak event will be marked with the commemoration of the 65th anniversary of Indonesian independence at Indonesia's outlying island of Kisar island in Southwest Maluku (MBD) district," Fadel added.