VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Pandemic and other global crises do not reduce Indonesia's global contribution. According to Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, over the past year, global attention has been on the war in Ukraine.

"Indonesia has consistently conveyed the importance of respecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of other countries. Indonesia consistently calls on related parties to start peace talks and stop the war," the Foreign Minister said in the Annual Press Statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (PPTM), Wednesday (11/1) in Jakarta.

According to Retno, Indonesia seeks a rapid reintegration of grain exports from Ukraine and wheat and fertilizers from Russia.

‘In this context, the President visited Kyiv and Moscow in July last year,’ she said.

Indonesia's attention is also inseparable from global humanitarian goals. According to Retno, Indonesia has also provided grants, medicines and health supplies, including for the rebuilding of hospitals in Ukraine.

Meanwhile in Afghanistan, in addition to humanitarian assistance, Indonesia also continues to support Afghan society, especially women. According to Minister Retno, the support is among others through a number of dialogues and cooperation.

‘Afghan-Indonesia-Qatar Clerical Trilateral Dialogue in Doha, active participation in the mission of OIC clerics to Kabul, signing Letter of Intent with Qatar to strengthen humanitarian aid and capacity building for Afghanistan and organizing the International Conference on Afghan Women’s Education in December 2022,’ Retno said.

The international conference, Retno said, generated commitments and pledged to promote women’s education in Afghanistan.

In Palestine, Indonesia's support for the struggle of the Palestinian people also continues. According to Retno, the support includes humanitarian assistance to overcome the pandemic to Palestinian refugees.

"Humanitarian assistance through grants has been distributed in the amount of 14.4 billion rupiah to overcome the impact of the pandemic, 7.2 billion rupiah through the ICRC, the annual allocation of 3 billion rupiah to UNRWA for Palestinian refugees," she said.

In addition, Retno added, Indonesia will also maintain its presence in solidarity with partner countries, among others, in providing humanitarian assistance for flood management in Pakistan, overcoming the impact of the economic crisis in Sri Lanka, overcoming the pandemic in a number of Pacific countries, including in the Solomon Islands, PNG and Fiji. (VOI/Andy)