Foreign Minister Holds Ramadan Dinner
By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter
Song Min-soon, minister of foreign affairs and trade, held a special dinner Wednesday to mark the Islamic religious observance of Ramadan for foreign ambassadors of member countries of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
The dinner, dubbed ``iftar'' in the Islamic world, was designed to enhance Koreans' understanding of Islam and cooperation with the Islamic countries. Iftar means a meal during a fasting period after sunset during the month of Ramadan (in the Arabic calendar).
Song thanked the ambassadors and their countries for helping obtain the release of Korean hostages kidnapped by the Taliban militants in Afghanistan and stressed that relations between Korea and Islamic countries should be enhanced.
On hand at the dinner were some 90 guests including the ambassadors, Islamic experts, businessmen working in Middle East and government officials.