News

Foreign Ministry continues cooperation with ICIS

NU Online  ·  Jumat, 13 Agustus 2010 | 01:26 WIB

Jakarta, NU Online
The Foreign Ministry will continue its cooperation with the International Conference of Islamic Scholars (ICIS) to promote moderate Islam as part of efforts to create global peace, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said.

Speaking to the press following a closed-door meeting with ICIS Secretary Geneal KH Hasyim Muzadi at the ICIS secretariat here on Thursday, Marty said both sides had established close cooperation.r />
"So far, on several occasions, the Foreign Ministry has established good cooperation with him (Hasyim Muzadi)," he was quoted by Antara newsagency as saying.

Hasyim said the ICIS had so far played a second track diplomacy in support of formal diplomacy conducted by the government.

"The second track diplomacy is informal," said Hasyim, one-time chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia`s biggest Muslim organization.

According to him, the informal diplomacy could support the formal diplomacy particularly when it came to conflict-plagued Islamic countries.

The ICIS was formed at the initiative of the former NU chairman and received a support from former foreign minister Hassan Wirajuda.

Marty further said his visit to the ICIS secretariat was a manifestation of his ministry`s support for the institution to keep promoting moderate Islam among the international community.

"This is our effort to show a better Indonesia to the international community," he said. (dar)