Serpong - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he wished to make Indonesia  a nation capable of  creating or  developing various technological and scientific solutions to overcome various shortcomings in the country.
   "In the current progressive era we can not only blame the past or others. If we fail the blame should be on us due to our inability  to understand signs. If we later are ahead of others that is because we have worked hard and improved our capability," he said before a science and technology community grouped in the Academy of Indonesian Sciences here on Wednesday.
   The head of state said one of the keys to making Indonesia superior in the 21st century was capability to master science and technology to make the nation become innovative.
   "A nation's success in commanding science and technology is the result of a planned and continuous effort. Actually it is also a dynamic integral part of civilization. Technology is not something we can achieve through dreams nor buy like we buy goods in the supermarket. Perhaps one or two technologies could be bought that way but it will not create technological society or knowledge society," he said.
   The head of state said although Indonesia had to be able to innovate what would be developed must be adjusted to the nation's needs.
   "We can say that the world is now harvesting technology. However it must be remembered that the technology that we are looking for and choose must remain relevant with the challenges the nation is facing now and in the future. The challenges include elevation of poverty, improving food and energy resilience, environment preservation, industrial development, improving state resilience and security and acquisition of technology to meet the future," he said.
   He said Indonesia is wide and rich in natural resources. "We have strong human resources whose superiority and bargaining power could continue to be increased. We also have good relations with all parties in the West, Islamic and developing countries, the emerging economies and others which could be our partners in development efforts," he said.
    He said Indonesia has a golden opportunity to exploit its resources and create prosperity for the whole nation including through scientific and technologial development and innovations.

-Antara, 21 January 2010-