REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – The visiting Portuguese President, Anibal Antonio Cavaco Silva, gave an award for former Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alwi Shihab, on Wednesday. Portugal praises Shihab for his reconciliatory approach to build relationships of both countries after the two decades frozen diplomatic relationships.

Shihab was a Minister for Foreign Affairs in 1999. He was a chairman of National Awakening Party (PKB) since 2002. Alwi was also the first Islamic intellectual sat on Board of Trustee in Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard Divinity School.

He also served as Coordinating Minister of People’s Welfare in United Indonesian Cabinet led by SBY. After he was removed on December 2005, he was planned to serve as special envoy for cooperation with Middle East. 

Meanwhile, President Silva has conducted bilateral meeting with President SBY. His visit is the first time since the opening of diplomatic relationship of both countries on 1950.

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