OIC to focus on Islam's image in West<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The upcoming meetings of the Organization of
\nIslamic Conferences (OIC) in Morocco next month will discuss ways
\nof improving the image of Islam in the world, Minister of Foreign
\nAffairs Ali Alatas said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Alatas told reporters after meeting with President Soeharto at
\nhis residence that the head of state would not be able to attend
\nthe OIC summit, scheduled for Dec. 13-14, due to his heavy
\ndomestic agenda.<\/p>\n
In his place, Alatas said he had been asked to head the
\nIndonesian delegation to the summit. Alatas will also represent
\nIndonesia at the OIC ministerial meeting on Dec. 10-11.<\/p>\n
One of the subjects at the OIC conferences is the negative
\nimage of Islam in the West which Alatas said had been created by
\nthe negative writings about the religion and its followers.<\/p>\n
Asked to elaborate, Alatas said: \"Islam is often associated
\nwith terrorism and various violent actions. This is the negative
\nimage that is often portrayed of Islam. They're not based on
\nfacts.\"<\/p>\n
\"Terrorism and violence exist everywhere. It has nothing to do
\nwith religion, but more on the socio-political conditions in each
\ncountry,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Alatas said all OIC countries have strongly condemned
\nterrorism.<\/p>\n
\"But we also have to differentiate between terrorism and
\nstruggles for independence. They're not the same.\"<\/p>\n
Alatas said the OIC meetings will discuss a host of other
\nsubjects, including the Palestinian issue, the situation in
\nBosnia-Herzegovina and Afghanistan. The meetings will also
\ndiscuss the need for OIC countries to coordinate their steps in
\nfacing the rising trend of economic regionalism.<\/p>\n
On a separate occasion, Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi
\nTaher yesterday reported to Soeharto on his discussions of
\nreligious harmony with Bill Clinton, when the American president
\nwas in Jakarta earlier this month.<\/p>\n
Tarmizi said the discussions took place when he escorted
\nClinton on his visit to the grand Istiqlal Mosque.<\/p>\n
\"It appeared that Clinton had a deep knowledge about Moslems
\nin Indonesia, the largest Islamic community in the world,\"
\nTarmizi told reporters after briefing Soeharto.<\/p>\n
He said he explained to Clinton how Indonesia has managed to
\nbuild harmonious relations between the various religions. \"That's
\nIndonesia. That's the Pancasila state,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Tarmizi also reported to Soeharto on the preparations for the
\nmeeting of OIC's propagation organizations slated for the third
\nweek of next January.<\/p>\n
The meeting, which Soeharto is expected to open, will be
\nattended by representatives from 36 countries, he added. (emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/oic-to-focus-on-islams-image-in-west-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}