President Yudhoyono to Discuss ISIS Issue in US

Jakarta (Antara)- President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed his intentions to discuss issues relating to ISIS with Muslim and non-Muslim leaders in the United States. Speaking to the press at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base here on Thursday, prior to his departure for a tri-country trip to Portugal, the US, and Japan, the head of state remarked that he will discuss political, non-military, permanent, and realistic solutions to the ISIS problem. "It is one of the key issues that will be discussed in Washington DC during a meeting with Muslim and non-Muslim leaders in the US," he affirmed. He expressed concern that ISIS might create new problems in Islamic countries. "Therefore, Indonesia wants to be active in finding common solutions through military operations carried out by the West or others in the international community. Indonesia believes that political and non-military solutions are needed," the president emphasized. President Yudhoyono and First Lady left for Portugal on Thursday as part of the initial leg of their three-country trip. He will return to Jakarta on October 1, 2014. "This trip is the longest that I have ever undertaken over the past 10 years. As the head of state, I will hold three bilateral meetings in Portugal, the US, and Japan. Those are not less important than a multilateral meeting that I will attend in the UN Headquarters, New York," Yudhoyono stated. (*)