President Receives Quran Experts

Bogor, W Java - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono received a visit from a number of Quran experts at Bogor Palace here, on Monday morning. In the meeting at Garuda room, the President was accompanied by Minister of Religious Affairs Suryadharma Ali, State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam and other high-ranking officials. The Quran experts who attended the meeting were Syekh Muhammad Ali Ash-Shobuni (from Saudi Arabia), Ahmad Mujahid bin Muhammad Ali Ash-Shobuni (Saudi Arabia), H Kechik (Malaysia), H Salim Hasan Barakwan (Indonesia), Nopel Abdullah al-Kaff (Indonesia), Abbas (Indonesia) and Kamal (Indonesia). President Yudhoyono extended a warm welcome to the Quran experts and thanked them for attending the meeting. "I am grateful to them for what they have done for the benefit of the Indonesian people," he stated. The President received the scholars at around 9 am, and Vice President Boediono arrived at Bogor Palace about 15 minutes later. From the information gathered by ANTARA, the President also planned to hold a cabinet meeting. Several ministers arrived at Bogor Palace at around 9.30 am. Among them were Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto and Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa.(*)