Megawati in Algeria<\/p>\n
Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri was to arrive
\nThursday in Algeria on a state visit focusing on commercial ties
\nand cooperation in fighting terrorism and in improving the image
\nof Islam, battered by local insurgences and the Sept. 11 terror
\nattacks in the United States.<\/p>\n
It was the first state visit to this North African nation by
\nan Indonesian leader despite more than a dozen bilateral accords
\nsigned over the last decade and annual trade of US$500 million.<\/p>\n
During Megawati's visit, which ends on Sunday, an important
\naccord was expected to be signed between Algeria's state-run oil
\ncompany Sonatrach and Indonesia's Pertamina.<\/p>\n
Megawati, who assumed the presidency of the world's most
\npopulous Muslim nation a year ago, was to meet with President
\nAbdelaziz Bouteflika and travel on Friday to Annaba, 600
\nkilometers (about 375 miles) east of the capital, with the
\nAlgerian leader.<\/p>\n
Talks also were to center on strengthening cooperation in the
\ndomain of religion, in particular aimed at improving the image of
\nIslam as a religion of peace, tolerance and respect for human
\ndignity, Algeria's Foreign Ministry said.<\/p>\n
Both countries are fighting Islamic extremists, whose bloody
\nrebellions have tarnished the image of Islam. The \"phenomenon of
\nterrorism\" was to rank high on the official agenda, according to
\nthe Foreign Ministry.<\/p>\n
Indonesia and Algeria signed a memorandum of understanding in
\n1995 that provides for the exchange of ulemas, or religious
\nsages, organizing joint seminars and other measures to increase
\ncooperation in the religious domain. The accord was likely to be
\nthe basis for further cooperation. -- AP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawati-in-algeria-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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