Indonesia to host meetings on Iraq, Palestine conflicts

Jakarta will host two separate meetings on issues relating to Iraq and Palestine next month, local press reported Wednesday.

One meeting will be held between Hamas and high-ranking officials and public figures from Europe and the United States next month.

Syrian-based Hamas supremo Khaled Meshaal has confirmed that he will send representatives to the meeting, reported English daily The Jakarta Post.

Indonesia received similar assurances from the West.

"A high-ranking official from Europe and several influential figures from the U.S. will come to Jakarta and talk to Hamas representatives directly," the Foreign Ministry's Director for the Middle East, Chandra Salim, was quoted as saying.

Chandra said the exact dates of the meetings are still being discussed with participants.

"We hope that after talking directly to Hamas representatives, these influential figures and officials can help end the economic blockade on the Palestinian unity government," he said.

As to the planned meeting on Iraq, the Foreign Ministry is cooperating with the country's largest Islamic organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), to invite both Sunni and Shiite leaders as well as officials from several countries in Asia and the Middle East to the meeting.

"We believe that religious leaders can help end sectarian violence in Iraq through discussion. That's why we are holding the meeting. If sectarian violence in Iraq continues to escalate, we are afraid that it will spread to our region," Chandra said.

Source: Xinhua