VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOInews, Jakarta: Indonesia as Chair of ASEAN has facilitated the reopening of lines of communication and consultation with various parties so that the Asean Coordinating Center For Humanitarian Assistance On Disaster Management (AHA Center) can distribute humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar.

According to Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, assistance will be given to the people of Myanmar who need it, regardless of their ethnic background, religion, and political orientation.

"We need to say that with this Indonesian facilitation, the AHA Center has succeeded in conducting consultations with several stakeholders which previously could not be done. Thus there is a movement regarding the access granted to the AHA Center," she said in a statement regarding Indonesia's achievement in the ASEAN Chair in the first 3 months of 2023, Wednesday (5/4), in Jakarta.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi admitted that consultation efforts were still needed that could reach more of all parties, accompanied by preparing all the necessary humanitarian assistance for the people of Myanmar who were affected by the conflict.

Indonesia, which currently serves as the Chair of ASEAN in 2023, continues to strive to promote peace in Myanmar. According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, this effort was pursued by encouraging the implementation of the 5 Consensus Points (5PCs).

5PC is an agreement reached by ASEAN leaders in April 2021 to respond to the crisis in Myanmar after the military coup. The 5PC agreement consists of 5 points, namely constructive dialogue, cessation of violence, mediation between all parties, provision of humanitarian assistance, and sending an ASEAN delegation to Myanmar.

"In the last 3 months, Indonesia has worked hard to push for the implementation of the 5 Point Consensus (5PC)," she said.

According to Retno, a number of efforts have been made by Indonesia so that the implementation of the 5PCs can actually be realized, including by strengthening ASEAN's solidity in dealing with the Myanmar issue.

"The ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat Meeting agreed that ASEAN has solidity in approaching or dealing with the Myanmar issue," she said.

She said Indonesia had also established communication with various parties with the aim of encouraging an inclusive national dialogue.

"These engagements, engagement with various stakeholders, are carried out in accordance with the 5PC mandate. In terms of the number of engagements, the engagements carried out during Indonesia's chairmanship have been carried out very intensively," she said.

Furthermore, Retno said, Indonesia as Chair of ASEAN had also held meetings for the first time with a number of Special Envoys, including Special Envoys from the UN Secretary General, Special Envoys from neighboring Myanmar, and also Special Envoys from other countries.

“Why is this being done? The ultimate goal is to promote coordination and synergy while continuing to strengthen ASEAN's centrality. From our engagement with all Special Envoys, it appears that support for Indonesia's chairmanship, ASEAN centrality, and the 5PC seems very strong," she said.

Apart from that, according to Retno, Indonesia has also conveyed developments regarding Myanmar, especially implementing the 5PCs, before the UN Security Council on March 13.

"In the closed meeting of the UN Security Council, it was clear that the strong support for Indonesia's chairmanship, the centrality of ASEAN and the 5PC," she said.

Indonesia, according to Retno, also continues to convey messages regarding the importance of stopping acts of violence and using military force in every communication with various parties.

"This call is based on fears of the increasing use of violence which of course results in increasing civilian casualties," she concluded.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi emphasized that efforts to build trust and bridges are crucial and will continue. In her opinion, a step forward is needed if Myanmar is to achieve sustainable peace.

"Trust is very important, and Indonesia will continue to try to build this trust. Indonesia is trying to continue to build bridges to bring the differences closer together," she said.

She also ensured that Indonesia would continue to try to facilitate conducive conditions to be created in Myanmar. According to her, this condition is necessary so that inclusive dialogue can be carried out.

"So that the use of violence can be stopped, and so that humanitarian assistance can be carried out immediately," she concluded. (VOI/Andy)

VOInews, Jakarta: Indonesia has run the ASEAN Chair in 2023 for 3 months. During that period, a number of things have been carried out, starting from aspects of the meetings that have been held as well as from the aspect of the substance of the talks related to regional issues. Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi said that in terms of substance, the theme of Indonesia's Chairmanship in ASEAN is divided into 3 aspects, namely, ASEAN Matters, Epicentrum of Growth and Implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on The Indo-Pacific (AOIP).

Regarding the ASEAN Matters pillar, according to Retno, ASEAN's capacity is important to be strengthened and Indonesia wants to make ASEAN work more effectively so as to be able to overcome future challenges. Therefore, she said, the unity and centrality of ASEAN are important to continue to maintain so that ASEAN is able to continue to be a locomotive for regional peace and stability.

"In this pillar, a big vision for ASEAN 2045 is also being prepared which is currently being drafted by the High-Level Task Force. From Indonesia, Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani is chairing the High-Level Task Force," she said in a statement delivered in Jakarta, Wednesday (5/4).

She added, currently discussions were underway to draft the ASEAN Leaders Statement which would be adopted at the 42nd ASEAN Summit in May from Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara.

"Apart from that, the process of discussing the draft ASEAN Leaders Statement on the Strengthening ASEAN's Capacity and Institutional Effectiveness is currently being carried out which will be adopted at the 42nd ASEAN Summit in May," she said.

Apart from that, according to her, currently, discussions are also being carried out on a number of priority issues including eradicating the Crime of Trafficking in Persons (TPPO) due to misuse of technology, accelerating negotiations on the text of the Code of Conduct (COC), strengthening the institutionalization of the Human Rights Dialogue in ASEAN, preparing a road map for full membership. Timor-Leste in ASEAN.

"And the signing of the SEANWFZ Protocol by the Nuclear Weapon States (NWS) whose process was halted in 2012," she said.

Meanwhile, in the Epicentrum of Growth pillar, according to Retno, several priorities that have been discussed in the last 3 months include strengthening the health architecture through the One Health Initiative and strengthening health emergency funding to strengthen national and regional health security, strengthening regional food security through regional food availability in during a crisis, as well as strengthening energy security, including through the development of an electric vehicle ecosystem.

"In the High-Level Task Force on Economic Integration meeting, ASEAN countries agreed to develop an electric vehicle ecosystem in ASEAN and it will be ratified at the 42nd Summit, next May," she said.

Furthermore, Retno Marsudi added, in the Epicentrum of Growth pillar, efforts to strengthen regional financial stability were also discussed, including through the use of ASEAN countries' currencies in trade transactions and connectivity of payment mechanisms in the ASEAN region.

"In the meeting between the Ministers of Finance and the ASEAN Central Bank, it was agreed that ASEAN countries would be committed to using local currencies and expanding payment mechanism connectivity to strengthen financial stability in the region," she said.

Retno Marsudi also said that digitalization of the economy and the tourism sector would also continue to be mainstreamed under Indonesia's chairmanship in ASEAN this year. In addition, discussions regarding protection for Migrant Workers in ASEAN and Rural Development were carried out through the establishment of the ASEAN Villages Network (AVN) and discussions are still ongoing.

While on the implementation pillar of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), Retno Marsudi said that during Indonesia's chairmanship, Indonesia wanted to see strengthening concrete cooperation from AOIP, with an emphasis on the principles of inclusiveness and economic cooperation and economic development.

"So the approach or emphasis on implementation from AOIP, that the principle of cooperation is inclusive and also prioritizes economic and development cooperation. Therefore, in line with the implementation of the AOIP, Indonesia will host or will hold a Flagship Event, namely the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum," she said.

Retno explained that AIPF would be held in Jakarta on 5-7 September 2023, which would be carried out in line with the 43rd ASEAN Summit. In addition, Indonesia also continues to approach ASEAN member countries and ASEAN external partners to register concrete projects in the context of AOIP at AIPF intensively.

"So it is about substance development, regarding meetings that have been held and developments in substance," she concluded. (VOI/Andy)

VOI News, Jakarta: Kazakhstan will hold Parliamentary and maslikhat (Local Administrative Body) Elections on March 19, 2023. These elections can be considered one of the most consequential for the future of democratic politics in Kazakhstan. Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Kazakhstan for Indonesia, Kazbek Bokebayev after the Press Conference to the Media at the Kazakh Embassy in Jakarta, Friday (17/3) hopes that the democratic party can run according to expectations which can bring goodness to the people of Kazakhstan.

"Frankly, we hope that in the parliamentary election there will be no problems and obstacles. God willing, everything will go smoothly in a good way. We make every effort to provide security or events, all police officers and all forces will be involved to maintain order in the elections. So we hope that nothing else will happen,” said Kazbek Bokebayev.

Previously, in a Press Release received by RRI VOI (16/3) from the Kazakh Embassy in Jakarta, President of Kazakhstan Tokayev said in his statement "The holding of early Mazhilis and maslikhats elections is determined by the logic of constitutional reform, which was supported by citizens in a national referendum. According to the results, our country is turning to the establishment of a new, fairer and more competitive representative branch of power.”

Over the last 30 years the Kazakh people have created a stable, prosperous and inclusive society. Exercising its democratic rights through a national vote will certainly help strengthen what has been achieved. Elections will bring the country forward for the welfare of the people.

"The election will not change our country overnight, but will further contribute to the creation of a Just Kazakhstan-a prosperous society, and a more dynamic and competitive political system," explained President Tokayev.

In addition, President Tokayev also revealed that Kazakhstan would become a stronger and more committed partner for the international community, including for Indonesia. Once the new members of Parliament are elected, Kazakhstan will continue to develop close ties with Indonesia. (VOI/Faisal)

Jakarta (voinews): Deputy Head of Mission of the Kazakh Embassy for Indonesia, Kazbek Bokebayev after a Press Conference with the Media at the Kazakh Embassy in Jakarta, Friday (17/3) said that after the new Kazakh parliament formed, cooperation with the Indonesian parliament will be even better and can provide benefits and contributed to both parliaments.

"We certainly already know that there is such a thing as a friendship that is built both in the Indonesian Parliament and in the Kazakh Parliament. This friendship continues to be renewed from time to time. Hopefully, after this pandemic is over, this year or next year we will see the first session in the Parliamentary Institution where members of the Kazakh and Indonesian parliaments will gather and exchange ideas, and talk about how to develop cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries. This is because building a parliament with a wide range of dimensions is also important and of course for cooperation between Kazakhstan and Indonesia in the interests of both countries," said Kazbek Bokebayev.

Bokebayev also explained that the parliamentary and maslikhat (Local Administrative Body) election processes are good and will take place on March 19, 2023, of course, this will also produce good-quality legislatures. So according to Bokebayev, his party is ready to increase cooperation with any country.

“We will change the best practice in the legislative process. How to grow new ideas, so that this process greatly contributes to the quality of the legislative process in the parliament of Kazakhstan or other countries. So we are open to developing parliamentary cooperation with Indonesia," said Bokebayev.

Furthermore, Bokebayev hopes that in the spring the friendship between the Kazakstan and Indonesian parliaments will grow and be strengthened soon. The Kazakstan party will propose to communicate with Indonesian parliamentarians. (VOI/Faisal)