Indonesia a better choice for Obama's speech to Muslim world: Analyst

Lilian Budianto ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 06/02/2009 3:30 PM  |  World

Indonesia would be a better choice than Egypt for US President Barak Obama to deliver his speech to the Muslim world, says an analyst.

Obama is scheduled to deliver a major foreign policy speech in Egypt to reach out to Muslims worldwide on Thursday in a movement aimed at mending hostile ties with its Arab adversaries.

“It is true that Indonesia would be more appropriate for Obama’s major speech because it is a democracy with a moderate Muslim majority,” Azyumardi Azra, a history professor at the State Islamic University of Syarif Hidayatullah, said.

“However, Obama's decision might rest on the fact that Egypt is one of the most important American allies in the Middle East, second only to Israel. Obama hopes that Egypt will fully support the US peace plan between Palestine and Israel,” he said.

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