Indonesia Initiates Mikta Interfaith Dialog

Yogyakarta (Antara Bali) - The Indonesian government has initiated an interfaith dialog among Meksiko, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey, and Australia (MIKTA) at a meeting held here, Oct. 18-19, 2016.

"This is the first meeting, and it was initiated by Indonesia," Vice Foreign Affairs Minister AM Fachir said on opening the dialog, here, Tuesday.

The dialog focused on efforts to deal with radicalism, extremism, terrorism, and other security threats.

The Indonesian government hoped the MIKTA cooperation would become stronger, more strategic and more inclusive in the future, Fachir stated.

"Not only the foreign ministry, but every participant is also expected to convey messages of peace," he said.

The dialog was organized by the foreign ministry in cooperation with the religious affairs ministry.

In their messages of peace, the participants called for activities that strengthen the spirit of solidarity and expressed their appreciation of the plurality, openness, and transparency in the government as well as at non-governmental levels.

MIKTA is a ministerial-level cross-regional consultative platform set up during the 68th UN General Assembly on September 17, 2013, based on similarities in economic capability and regional roles among the member countries.

"MIKTA is expected to establish cooperation in international community development," Fachir remarked. (WDY)