The president made the statement in his state-of-the-nation address on the occasion of the 66th anniversary of independence before the joint session of Regional Representatives Council (DPD) and House of Representatives (DPR).
"Owing to our hard work and togetherness at the beginning of this century, we also show the world that actually democracy, modernity, and religion can live side by side in harmony," the president said.
In line with that, the president said Indonesia was able to prove that it has managed to bind hundreds of diverse ethnic groups into a robust national unity based on the motto of Unity in Diversity.
"Although challenges and threats to pluralism, tolerance and social harmony are lurking around us, we must not overturn our conviction that Indonesia is a nation that is able to live in diversity," he said.
"It is this conviction that we must defend without reservation," the president added.
Referring to the state philosophy of Pancasila, President Yudhoyono said it was the source of inspiration and strength for the establishment of the people`s identity as Indonesians which was timeless and eternal.
"This is the time to unite all the energy that we have for a country that is prosperous, democratic, and justice-imbued. Indeed, this is also the time to change, from having a negative outlook into a more positive one, form a pessimist into a more optimistic one, from being apprehensive into a more self-confidence one," the president said.
(Uu.O001/H-NG/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
