Former president Calls on Asian. Africa Countries to Stop Conflicts

Jakarta (Antara) - Former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, also known as SBY, has urged Asian and African nations to stop wars and conflicts among countries in the region. "So many wars are occurring. We must stop the conflict that is happening in Yemen and other places, as well as the war started by ISIS," Yudhoyono stated at the Asia-Africa Parliamentary Conference here on Thursday. He stated that Asian and African countries, including Indonesia, have also seen internal conflicts or civil wars, such as in South Africa, Rwanda, and Cambodia. "This is the era of Asia and Africa. The economy of Asia as well as Africa is growing. So, nations in Asia and Africa should seize this opportunity and make their countries better," he noted. Earlier, SBY stated that the Asia-Africa Conference should be used to ensure proper cooperation between countries. "The spirit of the Asia-Africa freedom is not lost. Now, we should fight to support the spirit of peace, justice, and prosperity," SBY said after giving a speech at the Asia-Africa Parliamentary Conference here on Thursday. He stated that the Asia-Africa Conference can lead Indonesia to play a greater role at the international level. "More importantly, the Indonesian people should gain from the cooperation," he affirmed. In his speech, Yudhoyono also touched on the poverty problem in Asian and African countries. "There are many Asian and African countries where people still earn less than eight dollars a day," he observed. However, Yudhoyono noted, some countries have managed to make progress in achieving millennium development goals. He stressed that regional and interregional, particularly South-South, cooperation should be improved. According to Yudhoyono, countries in Asia and Africa have a lot of resources and innovations that can be shared and developed. Meanwhile, the Asia-Africa Parliamentary Conference is set to discuss the independence of Palestine, citing that it is the only nation at the Asia-Africa Conference that has yet to gain complete independence. "A special discussion on Palestinian independence will be held during the Asia-Africa Parliamentary Conference," Chairman of the House of Representatives Setya Novanto noted in a speech here early on Thursday. According to Novanto, the Asia-Africa Parliamentary Conference is expected to provide the necessary momentum to realize the independence of Palestine. "We and the people of Asian and African nations will pay the historical debt by liberating Palestine," Novanto emphasized. Novanto stated that the forum can be a solution to several problems in the world. "The Asia-Africa partnership can improve the future of the people in the two continents," he pointed out. The Asia-Africa Parliamentary Conference was inaugurated by President Joko Widodo. The ceremony was also attended by former House Speakers Akbar Tanjung and Marzuki Alie, former Vice-President Try Sutrisno, House leaders, ministers, representatives of Asian-African Countries, and ambassadors.(*)