Soeharto invited to Egypt

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)