Indonesia able to bridge Islam and West, says envoy

Antara News, Tue, May 17 2011

London (ANTARA News) - Indonesia has been able to prove its hope of bridging Islam and the West, Indonesian Ambassador to Germany Eddy Pratomo said.

The success was inseparable from the cultural characters of the Indonesian nation, he said at an international symposium on cultural diplomacy organized by the Berlin Institute for Cultural Diplomacy recently.

At the symposium the Indonesian ambassador spoke of the role of soft power and its significance in the realm of internal and external policies of Indonesia, spokesman for the Indonesian embassy in Berlin Purno Widodo said in an emailed statement to an Antara correspondent in London on Tuesday.

"Multiculturalism has been flourishing in Indonesia. It is made up of various elements serving as an important component in the soft power strategy of Indonesia," he told young professionals, academicians, political and diplomatic representatives, journalists and stakeholders in international relations at the symposium.

The soft power strategy dated back to the 14th century when the Majapahit Kingdom was established. At that time soft power was able to stem various tensions arising from multicultural reality among three religions, namely Buddha, Hindu and Islam, he said.

In implementing its foreign policy, the ambassador said Indonesia had always put emphasis on soft power with various modalities, such as moderate Islam and democracy, coupled with growing norms and values, including law enforcement, respect for human rights, good governance and freedom of the press.

Given the various modalities, Indonesia`s foreign policy had demonstrated the ever increasingly important role, evident from the international trust given to Indonesia to host the Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue and Bali Democracy Forum, he said.

Since then, Indonesia felt more confident to mediate in various conflicts between Islam and the West which had so far been under the spotlight, he said.

Editor: Bambang

Bali, the ‘Island of Love,’ Selected to Host Miss World 2014

Jakarta Globe, Made Arya Kencana | March 17, 2011

Denpasar. Some of the world’s most gorgeous women are set to grace Bali after the resort island was selected to host the Miss World beauty pageant in 2014.

Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika, speaking in Denpasar on Thursday, said organizers had confirmed that Bali would host the event.

Pastika said Bali’s natural beauty and unique culture were major factors in the island being selected as the venue for the international occasion.

“This will ensure Bali is even better known around the world,” he said.

Pastika said that after the filming of “Eat Pray Love” starring Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem in Bali, the island had a new nickname — “The Island of Love.”

He urged tourists seeking more intimacy in their lives to visit Bali.

“For those who have been married for a number of years and want to reinvigorate their love, or for who have not married and want to be intimate, Bali is the best place.”

The governor said new infrastructure was on the way, including an airport expansion and road upgrades.

Bali also plays host to an Asean summit later this year and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November 2013.

“We do not want to disappoint them all,” Pastika said.

RI aspiring to become world`s cultural center : minister

Antara News, Tuesday, October 19, 2010 00:32 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia is to host a World Culture Forum in Bali in 2012 to realize its dream of becoming the world`s cultural center, Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik said.

"Our plan to host the World Cultural Forum 2012 in Bali is related to our dream to make Indonesia the world`s cultural center," the minister said here Monday.

Indonesia deserves the honor to be the world`s cultural center on account of the high degree of its cultural diversity, he said. In fact, Indonesia was the most culturally diverse nation in the Asia Pacific region, he added.

"It is very hard and takes time to achieve our dream to become a center of technology. But becoming the world`s cultural center is a more achievable goal because of our high cultural diversity," he said.

Indonesia was one of the cradles of local wisdoms that became the roots of the cultures of other nations and if this fact was discussed and studied more deeply, the results could become a contribution to the solution of global problems, Jero said.

The plan to host the World Culture Forum 2012 was one of the country`s efforts to become the world`s cultural center. The dream actually began in 2008 when a team led by the late Ali Alatas was formed to pioneer its realization, he said.

However, the World Cultural Forum was postponed due to the global crisis.

"Now we are to host the World Culture Forum in Indonesia and the best venue for it is Bali," he said.

Jero said if Davos in Switzerland had hosted the World Economic Forum (WEF), Indonesia was now planning to host the World Culture Forum which was just as important as the WEF, he said.

Meanwhile, Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Rector Prof. Dr. Sudjarwadi said it was time for Asia to be the world`s cultural center.

He recalled that Europe had become the world`s cultural center in the 19th century, and America in 20th century. Now, in the 21st century, it was Asia`s turn to be the world`s cultural center, he said.

UGM was ready to support the World Cultural Forum 2012 in Bali and in this context would host a culture-related international event, Wisdom 2000, in Yogyakarta on November 8-11.

He hoped Wisdom 2000 would be Indonesia`s initial step toward hosting the World Culture Forum 2012.

Island of arts: Balinese women dressed in traditional outfits carry offerings during a parade at the annual Bali Arts Festival in Denpasar. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono opened the month-long festival on Saturday. – AP/Firdia Lisnawati

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Indonesia to Host Miss World Contest in 2014, Bali Governor

Jakarta Globe, May 27, 2010

Miss Indonesia 2009 Kerrenina Sunny Halim, middle, accompanied by other finalists on stage during the grand final of Miss Indonesia beauty pageant. The Indonesian resort island of Bali will host Miss World in 2014. (Photo EPA/Mast Irham)

Indonesia will host the Miss World competition in 2014. The news was broken by Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika during a speech to open the 61st World Real Estate Congress (FIABCI) at Hotel Grand Hyatt Nusa Dua, Bali on Thursday.

“In 2014 the Miss World contest is going to be held in Bali,” Pastika said.

According to Pastika, the resort island will also a host a number of other international events such as the 2011 ASEAN Summit and the 2013 APEC Conference.

Pastika used the opportunity to promote tourism in Bali by saying Bali had already gained another nickname.

“Bali is known as the Island of Gods and Island of Peace and Democracy, now Bali is the island of Love. Julia Roberts, in the movie Eat, Pray and Love found true love in Bali,” he said.

Pastika's persistence in promoting Bali earned him praise from Vice President Boediono.

“If you need a marketing director, Pak Governor is the right man. He has the knack for marketing,” Boediono said