WASHINGTON, DC, November 20, 2006 (ENS) - A new agreement to fight illegal logging in Indonesia signed last week by U.S. and Indonesian officials was praised today by the leaders of both nations.

Pekanbaru (EoF News) -- Indonesia and the United States of America will sign anti-illegal logging partnership agreement in September next year in an attempt to eradicate illegal logging and illegal timber trading. The cooperation will emphasize on effort to keep an eye on trade of illegal logging. “From that Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the point is on its implementation,” said Forestry Minister Malam Sambat Kaban last weekend as quoted by Investor Daily as saying. “If terrorism crime is fightable, so is environment crime too,” the minister said. Indonesia government expects the agreement will discourage perpetrators of illegal logging to supply illegal timber from Indonesia to the U.S territories and its allies, said Hadi Pasaribu, director general of Forestry Production of Forestry Ministry.