REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, WASHINGTON - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will open a mosque in Washington, the United States, on Friday afternoon.
The presidential spokesperson, Julian Aldrin Pasha, said on Thursday that the mosque, a collective effort of the Indonesians in Washington, would be inaugurated after the Friday prayers.
After the inauguration, Yudhoyono would hold discussions with several Islamic scholars of Washington. The President would also give a public lecture at the George Washington University before going to the mosque, Julian said.
The events, said Julian, were part of the President's efforts to improve the cooperation with the US and to understand the Indonesian international community better.
Earlier, on September 22, Yudhoyono visited the United States Military Academy at West Point. Yudhoyono was invited to the academy where he delivered a speech during the cadets' debriefing at the military academy.
The President also attended the UN Climate Summit 2014 in New York on September 24). Yudhoyono emphasized the importance of enhancing the cooperation between the countries to tackle the global climate problems.