RI TO CONTINUE HELPING TO CREATE MORE JUST WORLD

Jakarta, Aug. 14 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has stated Indonesia will continue to contribute to the creation of a more just and democratic world.

"We will consistently encourage the reformation of the United Nations, including the UN Security Council, and the world financial institutions in order to reflect ever more the reality of global economic power changes," President Yudhoyono said in his state-to-the nation address before a plenary session of the House of Representatives (DPR) at Parliament Building here on Friday.

He also said that Indonesia continued to assist the Palestinian struggle to materialize its ideals of becoming an independent, sovereign and cohesive nation.

As mandated by the 1945 Constitution, Indonesia would always be active in keeping world peace still subjected to prolonged conflicts, he said in his address delivered in the runup to the 64th Anniversary of Indonesia's Independence Day.

"On this auspicious occasion, I extend my heartfelt thanks and highest appreciation to the nation's best sons and daughters who are presently being assigned to peace-keeping duties in several international conflict areas, namely: in Lebanon, Congo, the Sudan, and Liberia, --all under the United Nations' flag," he said.

The nation should be proud that for the very first time, the Indonesian ship KRI Diponegoro of the fleet of the Indonesian Navy is currently assigned to peace-keeping duty on the Lebanese waters, he said.

According to him, with the end of conflict and military operation in a number of the country's regions, the assignment to international peace-keeping duty serves also as training grounds for TNI soldiers, to enhance their professionalism in compliance with international military standard.

The DPR's plenary session was attended among others by Vice President M Jusuf Kalla, cabinet ministers, and representatives of foreign countries.