Soeharto concerned over conflicts in Islamic states<\/p>\n
BANDUNG (JP): President Soeharto yesterday expressed concern
\nover violent conflicts in several Islamic states, including Iraq
\nand Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
"We view with concern armed conflicts in a number of countries
\nincluding Palestine and Israel, Iraq and the Kurds, as well as
\nhostilities in Afghanistan," he said at the opening of the 14th
\nconference of the Islamic chamber of commerce and industry.<\/p>\n
"We all share the hope that the Organization of Islamic
\nConference (OIC) plays a greater role in promoting the
\ndevelopment of its member countries and takes an active part in
\nestablishing world peace," he said.<\/p>\n
He said Indonesia, with its "active and independent" foreign
\npolicy, strove hard to participate in the creation of a world
\norder based on independence, peace and justice, as mandated by
\nthe Indonesian 1945 Constitution.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said the Asia-Pacific region was full of hope for
\nsustainable economic growth that would improve the region's
\nprosperity.<\/p>\n
"Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam, three Asian
\ncountries which are predominately Moslems, are actively engaged
\nin developing themselves.<\/p>\n
"Our Moslem brothers and sisters in Mindanao have consciously
\nand rightly abandoned force and established peace to pave the way
\nfor development aimed at improving people's welfare,'' he said.<\/p>\n
"Our brothers and sisters in Bosnia have also opted for
\npeace".<\/p>\n
In another part of his speech, Soeharto told Moslem
\nbusinessmen and industrialists to work to enhance common
\nprosperity.<\/p>\n
He said that by focusing on development, the OIC would not
\nonly become a respected political force but gradually become an
\norganization of economic cooperation and help Moslems prosper.<\/p>\n
"Hopefully, this meeting will be able to seek solutions to the
\nbackwardness suffered by OIC member states, and mankind in
\ngeneral, through better organized economic cooperation," he said.<\/p>\n
Although the conference was opened in Bandung, today's forum
\nwill be at the Jakarta Convention Center.<\/p>\n
Organized by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
\nthe Middle East and OIC Committee and the Center for Information
\nand Development Studies, the conference is being held
\nconcurrently with the first International Islamic book-fair and
\nan exhibition of halal (religiously permissible) products.<\/p>\n
The conference, which ends on Oct. 23, is being held before
\nthe 52-member OIC's ministerial meeting scheduled for December in
\nJakarta. (17\/swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soeharto-concerned-over-conflicts-in-islamic-states-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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