REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BALIKPAPAN - Environmental Affairs Minister Baltasar Kambuaya Is expecting the trans boundary haze pollution agreement to be ratified soon to handle the haze pollution from forest fires. Indonesia is the only country in Southeast Asia that has not ratified the agreement ever since it was signed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2002.

"Only last week, parliament agreed on the treaty after we had been struggling hard for it since 2005, and now we hope it will soon be ratified," the minister said, during his working visit to East Kalimantan, on Thursday. 

Balthasar noted that the ratification of trans boundary haze pollution agreement was necessary for Indonesia to strengthen its position in handling the haze pollution.

"By ratifying the agreement, we can discuss the matter in a polite manner with the countries affected by haze," the minister stated.

Land and forest fires frequently happen in a number of areas in Indonesia with the haze smog blanketing neighboring countries such as Singapore and Malaysia. The House earlier refused to agree on the ratification for fear of interfering Indonesia's sovereignty.

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