Indonesia commemorates Asia-Africa Conference

Indonesia commemorates Asia-Africa Conference

BANDUNG (JP): The 45th commemoration of the historic Asia-
Africa Conference was held here on Saturday with President
Abdurrahman Wahid's call for the strengthening of economic ties
among developing countries.

"The commemoration of the conference should become a benchmark
for the economic awakening among developing countries, especially
Indonesia," he said when addressing some 300 invitees, including
diplomatic dignitaries. The ceremony took place at the Gedung
Merdeka, where the first Asia-Africa Conference was held in 1955.

"The spirit of the conference must be far more important than
its ceremonial commemoration," he said. "Based on the conference
spirit, the Asia-African countries should have a non-hegemonic
formula for their foreign affairs policies."

"Such non-hegemonic foreign affairs policy was well formulated
by the late Mao Tse-tung (Mao Zedong)," the President said.

He acknowledged the Asia-Africa Conference was a very valuable
heritage from Bung Karno (first Indonesian president Sukarno).

"The Conference was the first concrete step for nations in
Asia and Africa to promote and enhance unity as new emerging
nations, seeking world justice and peace," he said. First Lady
Sinta Nuriyah Abdurrahman Wahid was also at hand.

Gus Dur, as the President is affectionately called, said that
he dreamed that the 50th commemoration of Asia-Africa would be
attended by the heads of states in an effort to solve the
economic problems.

The presence of the head of states would be significant for
Indonesian people to wake up from their "sleep".

The first Asia-Africa Conference 45 years ago was chaired by
Indonesian foreign minister Ali Sastroamidjojo and was officially
opened by president Sukarno.

The heads of 29 countries, including South Vietnam, took part
in the first conference, initiated by India, Sri Lanka, Burma
(now Myanmar), Pakistan and Indonesia.

Remembrance of the conference is a continuation of the spirit
of the elderly to that of the younger generations, the President
said.

In his speech he also praised the Indonesian founding fathers,
who he said were meritorious.

"Our founding fathers were 'highly-cultured' persons who could
join hands for the sake of national unity despite their own
interests," he said. "They took the nation to independence
despite the fact that they had their own interests."

"Now we are in a dangerous situation because we are engaged
more by our own concerns, ignoring the national interests," said
the President. (25/sur)