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Libyans celebrate their National Day in style in Jakarta
ADPARA>The Libyan community in Indonesia celebrated the 39th anniversary of The Great Al-Fateh (September 1969) Revolution, which transformed the United Kingdom of Libya into The Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahirya, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Jakarta on Thursday
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ADPARA>The Libyan community in Indonesia celebrated the 39th anniversary of The Great Al-Fateh (September 1969) Revolution, which transformed the United Kingdom of Libya into The Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahirya, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Jakarta on Thursday.
The Libyan National Day is on Sept. 1. but the national day reception was held earlier due to the start of the fasting month of Ramadan, which falls this year on the same day.
Libyan Ambassador to Indonesia Salaheddin M. El Bishari (second left, above photo) along with Indonesian State Minister for Administrative Reforms Taufik Effendi (second right), Dean of African Diplomats and Mozambique Ambassador Geraldo Antonio Chirinza (left) and Dean of Arab Diplomats and Moroccan Ambassador Abderrahmane Drissi Alami (right) cut a big cake to mark the occasion.
Besides Minister Taufik, a number of Indonesian public figures like Indonesia's Special Envoy for the Middle East Alwi Shihab and oil tycoon Arifin Panigoro, as well as members of the diplomatic corps, attended the colorful reception.
In line with Libya's improving relations with the United States and the European Union countries, United States Ambassador Cameron R. Hume and several European Ambassadors were present at the evening.
Ever since his arrival in Indonesia three years ago, Ambassador Bishari, whose official title is the secretary of the People's Bureau of The Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahirya, has tried to improve Libya's relations with Indonesia.
"This is the first Libyan National Day for Ambassador Bishari in Jakarta," Libyan embassy's third secretary Khalid A. Abdelrahman told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
Bishari was working as charge d'affaires until last November. Thanks to improving ties, the Libyan government appointed Bishari as an ambassador in November 2007.
During Bishari's tour of duty, bilateral trade jumped by six times from US$92.11 million in 2005 to $677.71 million in 2007. -- JP/Veeramalla Anjaiah
