REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Vice President Jusuf Kalla believes that Indonesia can be the role model for other countries in pursuit of peace amid the current global condition which is full of conflict and economic recession. "We are facing the same challenges, but we should be grateful for the fact that Indonesia is in the middle of the spectrum and is much safer and more stable compared to other countries," said Vice President Kalla in a press conference for 'Bridges: Dialogue Towards a Culture of Peace' in Dharmawangsa Hotel, South Jakarta, Wednesday.

The Vice President will be the honorary chairman for the international event in Indonesia, in which winners of Peace, Physics, Chemistry and Medical Nobel Prize will give public lectures and conduct dialogues with students from schools and universities.

He stated that Indonesia, with the biggest Moslem population in the world, provide an example to all countries across the globe regarding tolerance and mutual respect in coexisting with various communities. "Indonesia is the country with the biggest Moslem population in the world, but it is also home to the Catholic, Protestant, Hindu and Buddha communities. Over all, Indonesia have successfully maintain national harmony and unity based on the five principles (Pancasila) and the motto 'Bhinneka Tunggal Ika' (Unity in Diversity)," he remarked.

Nobel winners who will attend the dialogue in Indonesia include recipients of 2007 Economy Nobel Professor Eric Stark Maskin, 2012 Peace Nobel H.E. Jose Manuel Barroso, 1979 Physics Nobel Professor Sheldon Lee Glashlow, 1993 Medical Nobel Dr Sir Richard J Roberts, 2003 Economy Nobel Robert Fry Eugle III, 1990 Physics Nobel Professor Jerome Isaac Friedman, and 2003 Chemistry Nobel Dr Peter Agre.

The Bridges Dialogue will be held from January to March 2017 in 12 universities and two high schools in Indonesia, including Airlangga University, Atmajaya Catholic University, Bandung Technology Institute, Bina Nusantara University, Gadjah Mada Uniersity, Padjajaran University, Petra Christian University, Prasetya Mulya University, Surabaya University, Udayana University, Jakarta National University, University of Indonesia, Bina Nusantara School Simprug and IPEKA Integrated Christian School.

Other than Indonesia, the Dialogue initiated by the International Peace Foundation in Vienna, Austria will also be held in Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Singapore.

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