Soeharto concerned over conflicts in Islamic states

Soeharto concerned over conflicts in Islamic states

BANDUNG (JP): President Soeharto yesterday expressed concern
over violent conflicts in several Islamic states, including Iraq
and Afghanistan.

"We view with concern armed conflicts in a number of countries
including Palestine and Israel, Iraq and the Kurds, as well as
hostilities in Afghanistan," he said at the opening of the 14th
conference of the Islamic chamber of commerce and industry.

"We all share the hope that the Organization of Islamic
Conference (OIC) plays a greater role in promoting the
development of its member countries and takes an active part in
establishing world peace," he said.

He said Indonesia, with its "active and independent" foreign
policy, strove hard to participate in the creation of a world
order based on independence, peace and justice, as mandated by
the Indonesian 1945 Constitution.

Soeharto said the Asia-Pacific region was full of hope for
sustainable economic growth that would improve the region's
prosperity.

"Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam, three Asian
countries which are predominately Moslems, are actively engaged
in developing themselves.

"Our Moslem brothers and sisters in Mindanao have consciously
and rightly abandoned force and established peace to pave the way
for development aimed at improving people's welfare,'' he said.

"Our brothers and sisters in Bosnia have also opted for
peace".

In another part of his speech, Soeharto told Moslem
businessmen and industrialists to work to enhance common
prosperity.

He said that by focusing on development, the OIC would not
only become a respected political force but gradually become an
organization of economic cooperation and help Moslems prosper.

"Hopefully, this meeting will be able to seek solutions to the
backwardness suffered by OIC member states, and mankind in
general, through better organized economic cooperation," he said.

Although the conference was opened in Bandung, today's forum
will be at the Jakarta Convention Center.

Organized by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
the Middle East and OIC Committee and the Center for Information
and Development Studies, the conference is being held
concurrently with the first International Islamic book-fair and
an exhibition of halal (religiously permissible) products.

The conference, which ends on Oct. 23, is being held before
the 52-member OIC's ministerial meeting scheduled for December in
Jakarta. (17/swe)