Soeharto to attend next week's OIC summit

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto is scheduled to attend the eighth summit of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in Tehran, Iran, from Dec. 9 to Dec. 11, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas said yesterday.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with President Soeharto here, Alatas said he and Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono would accompany the President.

"This summit is important. There are many problems to be faced because the summit is held only once every three years," said Alatas.

Palace officials confirmed the visit yesterday but added that Moerdiono would officially announce it at a later date.

Alatas bid farewell to the President at the latter's residence on Jl. Cendana yesterday. Soeharto will leave for Tehran today for a foreign ministerial meeting scheduled to run from Dec. 6 to Dec. 7.

He said leaders of the 55 member states would deliberate external and internal topics and issues concerning the organization and its member states.

External topics to be discussed include the crisis in the Middle East such as the standoff in the peace process between Palestine and Israel and between Syria and Lebanon, the Iraqi crisis, conflict in Afghanistan, conflict in Somali, and the latest situation in Bosnia-Hercegovina.

In the economic field, topics to be discussed include the need for the OIC to consider a more routine interaction with the European Union, besides other big economic groupings such as the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Alatas said the OIC would also discuss internal issues such as the organization's US$15 million debt, which he said was a result of some member states' failure to contribute their membership fees.

"For the OIC, $15 million is big. But from an absolute point of view, we will be able to overcome the problem," he told reporters.

Alatas also said yesterday there would be 132 drafts of resolutions to be discussed in the fields of politics, economy, social, culture, administration and finance.

Iran would chair the summit as the host.

Alatas said informal leaders meetings and other bilateral meetings would be held during the conference.

AFP reported yesterday that Indonesia will offer US$2 million to the Palestinian Authority during the OIC summit.

The news agency quoted Iran's official news agency IRNA as saying that the donation would be handed over to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

It will be Arafat's first visit to Iran in 15 years. (aan/prb)