Soeharto invited to Egypt

JAKARTA (JP): Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, through the visiting Syeikh (grand imam) of Al-Azhar University, Syeikh Gadil Hal All Gadil Haq, yesterday extended an invitation for President Soeharto to visit Cairo in the near future.

The invitation was personally delivered by Syeikh Gadil when he paid a courtesy call on Soeharto at Bina Graha presidential office yesterday.

Syeikh Gadil said he was happy to have an opportunity to meet with Soeharto and had also conveyed Mubarak's greetings.

The Al-Azhar syeikh is currently on a week-long visit to attend the Second Istiqlal Festival and a series of other activities. The two-month long festival which features Islamic arts and culture was opened by Soeharto on Saturday.

Al-Azhar University is one of the world's first established university and is renown throughout the world for its academic excellence which heavily encloses Islamic teachings.

Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher, who accompanied the syeikh yesterday, said about 1,600 Indonesians are studying at the university.

"The philosophy and science developed at Al-Azhar are moderate Islamic thoughts. Al-Azhar strongly condemns obstinate teachings which tend to head towards fanaticism," Tarmizi said.

Indonesia and Egypt have long maintained strong diplomatic ties. Egypt was the first country to internationally recognize Indonesia's independence and the two-countries are founding fathers of the 112-nation Non-Aligned Movement which Soeharto currently chairs. (mds)