VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOI News : Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi said that regional countries, both ASEAN and the European Union, are at the forefront in maintaining consistent respect for international laws in a bid to prevent powerful countries from controlling it entirely. 

She also remarked that this is included in the Palestinian issue, where for more than 7 decades the Palestinian people have continued to face injustice. 

This was affirmed by Minister Retno Marsudi in the Opening session of the 3rd Indo-Pacific European Union Ministerial Forum Meeting in Brussels, Belgium.  In a statement received in Jakarta on Saturday (2/2). She affirmed Indonesia's commitment to continue to help the Palestinian struggle and called for the same thing to the European Union.

"I affirmed in my statement that Indonesia will not remain silent and will continue to help the struggle of the Palestinian people to obtain their rights whatever the challenges that must be faced and I called on the European Union to use its conscience to stop atrocities in Palestine. As a supporter of international law, the European Union must be consistent on the Palestinian issue because consistency between values and actions shows our true morality, “ Minister Retno pointed out.

Furthermore, the Indo-Pacific European Union Ministerial Forum is organized by the European Union as a dialogue platform to discuss issues in the Indo-Pacific region as well as efforts to increase cooperation. 

Indonesia, represented by Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, has participated in 2 previous similar meetings, namely in Paris in 2022, and in Stockholm in 2023. (VOI-Ndy-Mar- AF)

VOI News : Indonesia expressed concern related to European Union policies that could block partnerships with ASEAN, including regarding palm oil and the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).  Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi at the 24th European Union ASEAN Ministerial Meeting conveyed that ASEAN and the European Union must be partners for prosperity. 

In a statement received in Jakarta on Saturday (3/2),  she conveyed all the data that shows the European Union is one of ASEAN's important partners and vice-versa, with the economic character of the two regions being different and complementive each other.

“I affirmed that ASEAN also cares about environmental sustainability and the approach taken must be mutually helpful, but not punishing.  I emphasized that the “one-size fits all” standard cannot be applied. If the goal is to strengthen cooperation, then the only choice is one, namely working together, helping each other, and avoiding sustainability issues being used as a means of protection in trade,” Minister Retno said.

Moreover, Minister Retno also pointed out the importance of ASEAN and the European Union to become partners for peace and stability. According to Minister Retno, the current world condition is full of conflict so that she emphasized the importance of consistently respecting international principles, values and laws.  

Minister Retno also expressed her appreciation for the European Union's support for the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) which reflects a shared commitment to maintaining stability and peace in the Indo-Pacific. (VOI-Ndy-Mar- AF)

VOI News : Indonesia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are committed to continuing to be major contributors in creating and maintaining peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.  This was pointed out by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi when speaking in Roundtable I session on the 3rd Indo-Pacific European Union Ministerial Forum in Brussels, Belgium.

In a statement received in Jakarta on Saturday (3/2), she also explained that ASEAN has already had a concept, namely the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), and ASEAN also started implementing it during Indonesia's chairmanship of ASEAN last year.

“I also affirmed that ASEAN opens the door to partner with all parties, including the European Union. And, I explained the cooperation priorities that ASEAN wants according to the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, namely connectivity, infrastructure, achieving SDGs, trade and investment,” Minister Retno explained.

Furthermore, Minister Retno Marsudi at the Roundtable meeting explained the importance of respect for international law and multilateralism. She also remarked that ASEAN and the European Union were partners in maintaining continued respect for international law. 

Minister Retno perceived that consistency in implementing respect for international law must be applied to all issues, such as Ukraine and Palestine. (VOI-Ndy-Mar- AF)

VOI News : Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi attended the 3rd Indo-Pacific European Union Ministerial Forum meeting in Brussels, Belgium. In her speech, she highlighted the challenges facing the world from year to year, which are getting bigger starting from the war in Ukraine, the situation in Gaza, ongoing great power rivalry to capacity gaps among countries that hinder the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

She also affirmed the importance of the forum to strengthen collaboration, cooperation and partnerships to advance prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Minister Retno remarked that Indonesia had made these efforts in its ASEAN Chair last year, including through holding the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum (AIPF) and strengthening relations with the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), and the Association of Indian Ocean Rim Countries (IORA).

“ We don't want to see the Indo-Pacific region become a field of rivalry. What we want is the Indo-Pacific as a growth center,” Minister Retno conveyed.

On that occasion, Minister Retno further affirmed that cooperation in the Indo-Pacific must be inclusive, concrete, and adhere firmly to international law and collaboration paradigms.  These principles are contained in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) as a guide of ASEAN in navigating dynamics in the region and interacting with its partners from outside the region. 

She perceived that the European Union as a partner of Indonesia and ASEAN plays an important role in realizing a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (VOI-Ndy-Mar- AF)