PRESIDENT : RI OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD

Jakarta, Dec 19 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said here on Friday many parties often had wrong perceptions on Indonesia and this had created prejudices.
"I remember when I met with Colin Powell from the US while I was a cabinet minister. At the time he said Indonesia was a country that had often been understood in a wrong way," he said in his speech when launching a book he had compiled , titled "Indonesia Unggul" (Indonesia on the Move).
He said the religion which was embraced by most Indonesian population, namely Islam, was also often treated in the same way.
"I often brief foreigners on Islam. Islam is also often being understood in the wrong way," he said.
In view of that, he said as a head of state he had an obligation to make them understand through a variety of methods including writing a book.
"Indonesia Unggul" is the Indonesian version of "Indonesia on the Move" containing a number of President Yudhoyono's speeches and ideas on various aspects and issues.
"In this book, I talk much about democracy and various other issues," he said.
He said as a nation Indonesia had extraordinary potentials and one of them was solidarity and independence.
Since the time it was founded, the country had experienced all sorts of difficulties and was often seen as unable to stand. However, he said, the challenges had even made the nation strong and united.
Therefore, he called on all parties to continue developing positive thinking to promote civilization in the country.