Indonesian VP says haze beyond their control

MANILA, Philippines - "Sorry, but we cannot control the wind."

This was the message of Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Wednesday when asked about the haze that started on his country and has continued to envelope parts of Southeast Asia, including the Philippines.

"We don't want the haze going anywhere, but we cannot control the wind. So if it goes to other countries, sorry, but we cannot control it," Kalla said in a session at the APEC CEO Summit in Makati City. 

The summit is on its last day and is being held in conjunction with Manila's hosting of this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings. 

Asked in an open forum what Indonesia is doing to address the haze, Kalla explained that the current El Niño phenomenon is making things difficult.

He said conditions are expected to improve next year, but added that Indonesian forests make the task daunting.

"Anyway, we don't charge you for months of good weather," Kalla said.

Singapore and Malaysia are the two Southeast Asian countries most affected by the haze, but the Philippines last month said it has recorded isolated hazy conditions in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Kalla represents Indonesian President Joko Widodo to the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting starting today.