Millions of Muslim Americans were celebrating Ramadan at Iftar dinners throughout the United States.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - U.S. Ambassador Scot Marciel and other embassy staff broke their fast on August 13 at a `buka puasa` or Iftar dinner with Ustad Muhammad Nur Maulana from TransTV and other guests.

"On the occasion, both Marciel and Ustad Maulana emphasized the importance of religious tolerance in their respective countries. The US and Indonesia both have diverse societies, and the two nations share the value of religious tolerance," the US embassy said in its website here on Tuesday.

Marciel stated that millions of Muslim Americans were celebrating Ramadan at Iftar dinners throughout the United States.

Previously, during U.S. Assistant Secretary Jos W. Fernandez`s recent visit to Indonesia, Marciel invited some of Indonesia's top figures from the economic, business, environmental, science and technology, and health sectors for Iftar dinner on August 9.

Assistant Secretary Fernandez was in Jakarta to meet with government and business officials and sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Industry for greater bilateral cooperation in infrastructure development projects.

The U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership includes a number of formal and informal agreements on trade, climate and environment, and science and technology.

"The buka puasa event is a chance to reflect upon all the successes we`ve had over the past year in these dialogues and also to build momentum for even closer ties in the years ahead," Marciel said.

The U.S. Ambassador has been hosting a series of Iftar dinners to celebrate with his Indonesian colleagues the breaking of the fast during Ramadan.

Marciel has hosted many Indonesian leaders, including Deputy Speaker of the House of the Representatives Priyo Budi Santoso, Chairman Muhammadiyah Din Syamsuddin, and Imam of the Istiqal Mosque Dr. KH Ali Mustafa Yaqub.

On Monday, he highlighted the importance of tolerance and religious understanding, adding that an increasing number of Americans in the United States were participating in Ramadan events every year.
(Uu.A014/INE/KR-BSR)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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