Soeharto to attend next week's OIC summit<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto is scheduled to attend the
\neighth summit of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in
\nTehran, Iran, from Dec. 9 to Dec. 11, Minister of Foreign Affairs
\nAli Alatas said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters after meeting with President Soeharto
\nhere, Alatas said he and Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono would
\naccompany the President.<\/p>\n
\"This summit is important. There are many problems to be faced
\nbecause the summit is held only once every three years,\" said
\nAlatas.<\/p>\n
Palace officials confirmed the visit yesterday but added that
\nMoerdiono would officially announce it at a later date.<\/p>\n
Alatas bid farewell to the President at the latter's residence
\non Jl. Cendana yesterday. Soeharto will leave for Tehran today
\nfor a foreign ministerial meeting scheduled to run from Dec. 6 to
\nDec. 7.<\/p>\n
He said leaders of the 55 member states would deliberate
\nexternal and internal topics and issues concerning the
\norganization and its member states.<\/p>\n
External topics to be discussed include the crisis in the
\nMiddle East such as the standoff in the peace process between
\nPalestine and Israel and between Syria and Lebanon, the Iraqi
\ncrisis, conflict in Afghanistan, conflict in Somali, and the
\nlatest situation in Bosnia-Hercegovina.<\/p>\n
In the economic field, topics to be discussed include the need
\nfor the OIC to consider a more routine interaction with the
\nEuropean Union, besides other big economic groupings such as the
\nASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and the North American Free Trade
\nAgreement (NAFTA).<\/p>\n
Alatas said the OIC would also discuss internal issues such as
\nthe organization's US$15 million debt, which he said was a result
\nof some member states' failure to contribute their membership
\nfees.<\/p>\n
\"For the OIC, $15 million is big. But from an absolute point
\nof view, we will be able to overcome the problem,\" he told
\nreporters.<\/p>\n
Alatas also said yesterday there would be 132 drafts of
\nresolutions to be discussed in the fields of politics, economy,
\nsocial, culture, administration and finance.<\/p>\n
Iran would chair the summit as the host.<\/p>\n
Alatas said informal leaders meetings and other bilateral
\nmeetings would be held during the conference.<\/p>\n
AFP reported yesterday that Indonesia will offer US$2 million
\nto the Palestinian Authority during the OIC summit.<\/p>\n
The news agency quoted Iran's official news agency IRNA as
\nsaying that the donation would be handed over to Palestinian
\nleader Yasser Arafat.<\/p>\n
It will be Arafat's first visit to Iran in 15 years. (aan\/prb)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soeharto-to-attend-next-weeks-oic-summit-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }