Former heads of state to meet here

Former heads of state to meet here

JAKARTA: Former Indonesian president B.J. Habibie will meet with former Australian prime minister Malcolm Fraser here next week and former Dutch prime minister Andreas van Agt to discuss a possible clash of civilizations as an outcome of the war on terrorism.

A press release from the Habibie Center said on Friday the three-day meeting starting on March 11 would discuss whether the U.S.-led global war on terrorism could lead to a clash of civilizations.

The discussion will also feature secretary-general of the International Islamic Council Kamel al-Sharief, head of the Buddhist Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement A.T. Ariyatne, and secretary-general of the World Council of Churches Konrad Raiser.

Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) secretary-general Din Syamsuddin, Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) leader Natan Setiabudi and head of the Indonesian Bishops Conference (KWI) Julius Darmaatmadja are also scheduled to attend.

The meeting, hosted by the Forum Interaction Council, aims to bring together world leaders to discuss positive efforts to bridge the differences among different religions, the Habibie Center said.

Habibie, who was handpicked as president in 1998 after the downfall former strongman Soeharto, has been living in Germany after lawmakers opposed his reelection in 1999. --Antara