VP PRAYS FOR LASTING PEACE IN ACEH

Banda Aceh, March 13 (ANTARA) - Vice President M Jusuf Kalla said here Friday he was always praying for lasting peace in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) so that the province would really become "darussalam" or prosperous and peaceful.

"I always pray and make efforts for lasting peace in Aceh so that its qualification as 'darussalam' can be really be met," the vice president said after attending a Friday prayer service at Baiturrahman Grand Mosque here on Friday.

He also urged the Acehnese people to always be grateful for the peace they have enjoyed since the signing of the peace accord in Helsinki on August 15, 2005, between the Indonesian Government and former GAM (Free Aceh Movement).

No one should harm the Helsinki peace accord, and for a prosperous and peaceful Aceh, no one should cause disciplinary problems, and conduct intimidation or violations, Kalla said.

On the occasion, Jusuf Kalla presented a donation for Baiturrahman Grand Mosque to the mosque's Grand Imam, Azman Ismal, who was accompanied by Aceh Deputy Governor Muhammad Nazar.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla is in a working visit to Aceh to inaugurate 10 development projects carried out by the Aceh-Nias Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Board (BRR).

The projects include Sinabang port in Semeuleu district, Cut Nyak Dien airport in Meulaboh district, Tsunami Memorial Building in Sigli district, NAD high prosecution office , and Banda Aceh district prosecution office.

In addition, the vice president would also inaugurate Meulaboh-Tapaktuan road, ADB Aceh Besar bridge, Banda Aceh Archive Building, New Town access road, and a clinic in Aceh Besar district.

The inauguration of the Rp572 billion projects is in conjunction with the end of the BRR's mission in Aceh on April 16, 2009.

Besides inaugurating the projects, the vice president in his capacity as Golkar Party chairman would hold a meeting with the party's cadres in Aceh.