British MPs to visit Indonesia

British MPs to visit Indonesia

JAKARTA: A delegation of inter-faith British parliamentarians will make a seven-day visit to Indonesia, including to the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar, starting from July 28, the British Embassy said on Friday.

The delegation, which will be led by Win Griffiths, chairman of the UK-Indonesia Parliamentary Group, will listen to and discuss the role of inter-faith dialog in conflict settlement with Indonesian people, the statement said.

The delegation is also interested in exploring the role of the House of Representatives in democratization and in strengthening parliamentary links between Indonesia and the United Kingdom, it added.

The delegation will visit Jakarta and Makassar and hopes to meet a range of government officials and legislators.

"They include President Megawati Soekarnoputri, House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Akbar Tandjung, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Yusuf Kalla, South Sulawesi Governor HZB Palaguna, South Sulawesi Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani and leaders of the South Sulawesi provincial legislative council," the statement said.

The delegation is also slated to attend the opening of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR's) annual session on Aug. 1.

Members of the British Parliamentary delegation are Win Griffiths, Baroness Cox of Queensbury, Baroness Uddin, Khalid Mahmood, Mohammad Sarwar, Martin Smyth, John Cummings and Lord Bhatia of Hampton.--Antara