"We understand that the massive earthquake and tsunami hitting Japan recently have caused a lot of problems, but the North Maluku province still hopes that the country could take part in Sail Morotai," Muhadjir Albar, secretary of the North Maluku provincial administration, said here, Saturday.
Japan would be a special participant in the international maritime event, because of its historical links with North Maluku, he said.
In the World War II, Japan and the Ally forces had used Morotai Island as one of its military bases in the Asian and Pacific region. Therefore, Morotai has many remnants of the Allies`s tanks and warships, he said.
Japanese bunkers, ex-air force base, and tank as well as warship wrecks can still be found in Morotai and North Halmahera District, North Maluku Province, Albar said.
North Maluku Governor Thaib Armaiyn is currently in Taiwan to promote the Sail Morotai event, after earlier visiting South Korea, Muhadjir Albar added.(*)
(F001/HAJM/f001)
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
