INDONESIA CALLS FOR UN PEACEMAKING FORCES IN SYRIA By Fardah

     Jakarta, July 31, 2012 (ANTARA) - Muslim-majority countries that are members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will meet in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on August 14-15 to discuss the prevailing conditions in a number of Muslim countries, particularly Syria.
     The emergency Islamic summit has been organised by Saudi King Abdullah in order to unify Muslim countries "in this fragile time of discord", according to Saudi press.

Indonesia, Asean urged not to remain silent on atrocities againts Rohingya by Fardah

           Jakarta, July 30, 2012 (ANTARA) - As the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Indonesia as a prominent ASEAN member country seem to remain silent on the violence against Rohingya ethnic minority in Myanmar, the public protests are in fact mounting.

         Last Friday, the Rohingya-Arakan Information and Advocacy Center (PIARA) staged a rally and eventually sealed a gate of the ASEAN Secretariat building for disappointing that none of ASEAN Secretariat's officials was willing to meet them.

NTT GEARS UP FOR SAIL KOMODO 2013 By Fardah

     Jakarta, July 27, 2012 (ANTARA) - The East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) administration, which is responsible for the organisation of Sail Komodo 2013, has started kicking things into high gear by sprucing up the city to welcome foreign guests and participants.
     The annual international maritime event, attended by sailors from as many as 20 countries, is expected to capture the imagination of the world through eye-catching events that showcase the true spirit of Indonesia.

GOVT FINALLY RESPONDS TO TEMPE PRODUCERS' DEMANDS by Fardah

     Jakarta, July 25, 2012 (ANTARA) - The impact of global warming is real on the dining tables of most Indonesians who love eating tofu and tempe (fermented soybean cake).
     Tempe and tofu, favorite food of many Indonesians, reportedly disappear from markets following a strike by tempe and tofu producers to protest the price hike of soybean, the basic material for making tempe and tofu.

WOMEN'S ROLE IN SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ENCOURAGED IN ISLAMIC AWAKENING By Fardah

     Jakarta, July 21, 2012 (ANTARA) - For the first time in the history, over 1,000 Muslim women from 85 countries gathered in Tehran, Iran, to discuss the women`s role and the Islamic awakening in a two-day international conference, July 10-11, 2012, organized by the government of Iran.
      Indonesia was represented by around 20 delegates from universities such as the University of Indonesia, the University of Padjajaran, and NGOs such as MER-C Indonesia, in addition to two female journalists, in the World Conference on Women and Islamic Awakening held at Milad Tower International Conference Center in Tehran.

FOOD PRICE CONTROL, MARKET OPERATIONS URGED DURING RAMADHAN by Fardah

     Jakarta, July 20, 2012 (ANTARA) - The prices of basic necessities such as rice, meat, and eggs, often run up for no justified reason prior to the Islamic holy month of Ramadhan (the fasting month).
     Food stocks are adequate at most times, but traders seemingly increase food prices in a bid to rake in more profits. However, this food price hike burdens the people and indirectly leads to plateauing of salary incomes.

TAMAN-TAMAN MEMBUAT TEHERAN RAMAH PADA PENDUDUKNYA oleh Fardah

     Jakarta, 18/7/2012 (ANTARA) -Pemandangan alam Iran terlihat gersang dan dikelilingi gunung bebatuan dari atas pesawat yang akan mendarat di Teheran. Namun ternyata ibu kota Iran itu menyimpan kejutan bagi para pendatang.

        Teheran merupakan kota dengan peradaban yang sangat tua dan budaya yang kaya. Menurut salah satu versi sejarah, kota ini pertama kali didirikan oleh raja pertama Iran, Houshang, pada tahun 4000 SM.

INDONESIA TINGKATKAN PROMOSI PARIWISATA DI IRAN

      Teheran, 10/7/2012 (ANTARA) - Dubes Indonesia untuk Iran Dian Wirengjurit mengatakan Pemerintah akan meningkatkan promosi pariwisata Indonesia di Iran, yang telah memiliki masyarakat kelas menengah yang kuat.
      "Promosi kita selama ini kurang oleh karena itu harus ditingkatkan. Akan ada dana ekstra untuk memprioritaskan promosi di kawasan Timur Tengah termasuk Iran," ujar Dubes kepada wartawan ANTARA dan Republika di Teheran, Selasa.

AHMADINEJAD EMPHASIZES IMPORTANT ROLE OF WOMEN

      Tehran, July 10, 2012 (ANTARA) - Iran President Mahmud Ahmadinejad told over 300 Muslim women from 85 countries, including Indonesia, that women play important and more lasting roles particularly in the social development.
       "When women awaken, the whole nation will awaken," Ahmadinejad said in the opening of the World Conference on Women and the Awakening of Islam, here, Tuesday.

PRESIDEN IRAN TEKANKAN PERAN PENTING PEREMPUAN

      Teheran, 10/7/2012 (ANTARA) - Presiden Iran Mahmud Ahmadinejad di depan lebih dari 300 muslimah dari 85 negara, termasuk dari Indonesia, mengatakan perempuan mempunyai peran penting dan sangat berpengaruh khususnya untuk pembangunan sosial.
       "Jika perempuan bangkit, maka seluruh masyarakat bangkit," kata Ahmadinejad pada pidato pembukaan Konperensi Internasional Tentang Perempuan dan Kebangkitan Islam di Teheran, Iran, Selasa.

KONFERENSI PEREMPUAN DAN KEBANGKITAN ISLAM BANGKITKAN SUASANA HEROIK SEKALIGUS MENGHARUKAN oleh Fardah

    Teheran, 10/7/2012 (ANTARA) -Diam-diam beberapa perempuan Indonesia meneteskan air mata ketika menyimak pidato dan menyaksikan cuplikan video perjuangan kaum hawa di medan perang yang diputar pada pembukaan Konferensi Internasional Tentang Wanita dan Kebangkitan Islam di Teheran, Iran, Selasa (10/7).

        "Pidato Presiden Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad luar biasa. Saya sampai menangis. Isi pidato tersebut bukan saja memotivasi wanita , tapi juga seluruh masyarakat dunia. Indonesia harus belajar banyak dari Iran, misalnya menyangkut percaya diri," dr Zackya Yahya Sp OK, ketua koordinator penelitian MER-C Indonesia Timur, mengatakan pada ANTARA, setelah mengikuti prosesi pembukaan konperensi tersebut.

INDONESIA INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN RECONSTRUCTION OF IRAQ By Fardah

      Jakarta, July 4, 2012 (ANTARA) - The recent visit of Iraqi deputy prime minister Hussain Ibrahim Saleh Al-Shahristani to Indonesia is expected to strengthen bilateral relations between Indonesia and Iraq, particularly in the economic, business and investment sectors.
      Al-Shahristani invited Indonesia's state-owned and private companies to participate in the reconstruction of Iraq, such as in the development of energy, oil and gas sectors, as well as of infrastructure, most of which was destroyed after the US invasion.

INDONESIA PROMOTES INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS OVERSEAS By Fardah

     Jakarta, July 3, 2012 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, at a Monday evening banquet hosted by Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard in Darwin, Australia, invited Australian businessmen to invest in infrastructure projects within the Master Plan of Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesian Economic Development (MP3EI).
      "I invite Australian businessmen to be actively involved [in the MP3EI projects], not only in Bali, West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara, but also in Maluku and Papua," the head of state said.