Lebanese Can Sleep Well Due To Indonesian Troops Guard

JAKARTA, Nov 16 (Antara) - Lebanese can sleep well because of Indonesian troops joined in UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon or Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon) has been guarding the peace and stability in the country, Indonesian Ambassador to Lebanon, Achmad Chozin Chumaidy, said here on Tuesday. "In addition to be well-know of its competence in keeping peace in territory in Lebanon, including its waters, Indonesian forces can also do approach to the local people so well that when the Indonesian army have difficulty they get help from the Lebanese," the ambassador told Antara. Achmad Chozin Chumaidy said Indonesian army's ability to approach people in Lebanon because of the TNI (Indonesian Armed Forces) was born from the people and have a cultural mission that facilitates the troops entering various communities in the nation of 4.5 million people. Chumaidy explained, UNIFIL leader always praises and is proud to Indonesian forces for its being the pillars of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon as they are known discipline, loyal and close to the local people. "In addition, Lebanon social condition is same as that in Indonesia which is diverse in cultures, ethnics and religions but keep together," he added. With its cultural mission, the Indonesian troops in Lebanon often participate in various activities including sport events such as shooting and volleyball which are Indonesia's featured sport, the ambassador said on a visit to Antara news agency. The visit also aims to discuss the intention of Lebanon news agency to cooperate with Antara. "Lebanon cannot be forgotten because it is the third country that supports Indonesian independence after Egypt and Syria," Chumaidy said, adding that Indonesia needs to continue to improve the strategic relationship that has been established. According to Chumaidy, Lebanese people have seen Indonesia as the largest Muslim population country of the world and is able to maintain tolerance and togetherness among several ethnic groups and people of other faiths. Therefore, both countries can cooperate in developing the potential of each. "Indonesia can export coffee to Lebanon because Lebanese like to drink coffee. Besides, Lebanon is the gateway for the export of Indonesian products such as car tires, charcoal briquettes and Muslim fashion to the surrounding countries," the ambassador said. However, he said, these potentials have not been known by many people in both countries, and therefore the Lebanese news agency, the National News Agency (NNA) wants to cooperate with Antara news agency for broadcasting potentials and developments the two countries. During this time, the Lebanese people only know about Indonesia from foreign news agency that only broadcast unfavorable news about the country, such as terrorism, while news about Lebanon is very little known by the Indonesians, Chumaidy said. In the near future the Lebanese news agency delegation will visit Indonesia, especially to Antara in order to realize their plan to cooperate with the Indonesian news agency, Chumaidy added.