Surabaya, East Java (ANTARA News) - The US consul general in Surabaya held a fast breaking gathering at her residence on Monday, attended by local Islamic leaders and also US ambasssador-designate Scot Marciel.

Among the Islamic leaders who attended the event were KH Sholaduddin Wahid (Gus Sholah), the chief of the Tebuireng Islamic Boarding School, Prof Syafiz A Mughni, the chairman of the East Java chapter of Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and the chairman of the East Java NU advisory board, KH Miftachui Akhyar.

Other guests included academics, artists, politicians and press figures such as Martono, head of the East Java chapter of Golkar Party, Kresnayana Yahya (economist), M Syaiful Aris (Surabaya Legal Aid Institute) and Sabrot D Malioboro (the East Java Art Council).

Before delivering her speech Consul General Kristen F Bauer introduced ambassador-designate Scot Marciel who just arrived in Indonesia on August 16.

"It is an honor for us he could attend this event," she said.

Baur said President Obama greeted Moslems in the US and across the World happy fasting recently.

"President Obama said Ramadhan for Moslems is time for contemplation and service, time for Moslems to give support to others to give an opportunity and welfare to people everywhere," she said.

She said President Obama also said the tradition reminded the common principles and the role of Islam in promoting justice, progress, tolerance and respect for all human races.

"To President Obama, Ramadhan is a festivity in faith to acknowledge pluralism and racial equality. In the US Ramadhan is time to remind us all that Islam is always part of the US and American Moslems have contributed extraordinarily to our state," she said.

"Based on that we happily welcome our Moslem friends in our home to jointly break the fast," she said.

Gus Sholah meanwhile said the fast breaking gathering with US Consul General had been a long tradition.

"I have attended it several times and in view of that I hope the cooperation could be further increased," he said. (*)

Editor: B Kunto Wibisono
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