[asia-apec 1649] APEC - from Borneo Bulletin (Brunei)

[APEC Monitoring Group]

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2000 

  Imams greet Apec pray for success
  By Malai Hassan Othman & Bahreen Hamzah
   
  Mosques throughout the country yesterday delivered a special sermon welcoming Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec), an international grouping of 21 world economies to hold its meetings. 

  Brunei, one of the smallest economies in Apec is this time around a host to this prestigious international event. The climax of the meeting will be the much-awaited Leaders Summit next week which will be attended by world leaders including, United States President Bill Clinton, China's Premier Jiang Zemin, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japan's Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori as well 

  as leaders from the less powerful and influential economies. 

  Imams in the Friday sermon said it is truly an honour for Brunei, being just a small economy in such a big grouping of widely diverse economies, to play host to such prestigious international event. 

  "Leaders and delegates from member economies will be in town soon for the upcoming Apec Ministerial Meeting and Leaders Summit," said imams in their sermon as senior Apec officials began their two-day deliberations to finalise preparations for a two-day ministerial meeting comprising foreign ministers and ministers responsible for trade to begin on Sunday. 

  The imams said, as Brunei will be in the international limelight it would only be appropriate for people in the country to do the nation a favour by upholding "the fine identity and culture of Bruneians, the courtesy and the good attitudes we are known for". 

  Imams during the Friday mass prayer also recited a special prayer to seek divine blessing for the smooth running of the Apec proceedings in the country which senior officials are struggling to avoid being sidetracked by the issue of rising world oil prices and globalisation.