"The blood donating activity was part of the Indonesian community`s contribution to the humanitarian work of the Egyptian Red Crescent organization," Iwan Wijaya Mulyanto, an Indoensian embassy official, said.
He said that besides the blood donatng activity, the Indonesia Fair was also marked by various performances by Indonesian students, family members of the embassy staff, and members of the Indonesian as well as Egyptian communities.
Meanwhile, Indonesian Embassy`s ad interim charge d`affaires Burhanuddin Badruzzaman likened the blood donating activity to a fraction of the sacrifices made by Indonesian forefathers in the struggle for independence.
"We can follow the sacrifices of our ancestors in their struggle for independence through concrete action in the form of blood donations for humanitarian mission in the Indonesia Fair 2011," Burhanuddin said.
The one-day Indonesia Fair at the weekend was the first to be organized by Indonesian Embassy in cooperation with Indonesian community in Egypt.
Iwan said the Indonesia Fair was one of a series of big activities, conducted by Indonesian Embassy in Cairo to observe the 66th anniversary of Indonesia`s independence.
He added that the event was also intended to step up the solidarity among Indonesian community to introduce their cultural diversity to Egyptian community.
Uniquely the event was opened by Burhanuddin by throwing an earthenware flask containing water and rice.
Philosophically, the earthenware symbolizes the Indonesia motherland and the rice symbolizes people`s welfare.
"The action to break an earthenware of water and rice implies a real action to melt down the ice that impede the progress of the national development," Burhanuddin said.
(Uu.O001/HAJM)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
