VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has warned the UN Security Council, during its open debate in New York on Tuesday, Jan 22, that Israel`s illegal settlements on the occupied land of Palestine should immediately be ended.  She also emphasized that Palestine possesses both natural and legal rights to become the United Nations` permanent member.

The efforts of Palestine and the international community to meet the rights would not be weakened by the turbulent road towards its independence and UN membership, she was quoted as saying in the Foreign Ministry`s statement that on a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Marsudi stated that her participation in the UN Security Council`s open debate on the situation in the Middle East was aimed at showing Indonesia`s ongoing support for Palestine`s unfinished struggle for its independence. In this regard, the Palestinian issue must be given full attention by the UN Security Council, and a success in resolving the issue would determine the UN Security Council`s credibility and the international community`s trust on it, she noted.  In her remarks at the open debate, the Indonesian foreign minister highlighted three main points to win the international community`s attention in an endeavor to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflicts.

First, she emphasized that all parties should meet international law and all related UN Resolutions, and prevent themselves from taking provocative measures. The Indonesian Government also underlined the importance of an immediate end to violent acts and violations of international law. Hence, Israel`s illegal settlements on the occupied land of Palestine should immediately be ended.

"The illegal settlements are morally and legally wrong, and so they must be stopped immediately," she remarked.

The second point is related to the importance of legitimacy for the peace process of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict resolution. The peace process needs to meet an international parameter that has been approved and supported by multilateral mechanism. For Indonesia, the Two-State Solution is the only way to keep the Palestinian-Israeli peace process alive and progressive. Therefore, Indonesia is concerned with the endeavors to exit from the Two-State Solution principle, she added.

The third point that the Indonesia Government pays serious attention to is the Palestinian people`s prolonged humanitarian crisis, particularly in Gaza, as a result of Israel`s 11-year-long blockade. The blockade must immediately be ended. Indonesia highly appreciates the UN member countries, which have backed the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), to cope with its financial deficit.

"Indonesia itself has increased its contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)," Marsudi revealed.

In her closing remarks at the open debate, which she firstly attended since Indonesia has officially been seated as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council on Jan 1, 2019, she encouraged all parties to restrain from all acts of violence.(ant)

Indonesia and Morocco have agreed at a meeting recently to enhance trade cooperation by activating the joint trade commission (JTC) forum and starting negotiations on the preferential trade agreement (PTA) soon. The meeting was a follow up to the signing of a joint statement by Indonesian Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita and Moroccan Junior Trade Minister Rakiya Eddarhem in June 2018 to activate the JTC forum and form the Indonesia-Morocco PTA.

"In an effort to maintain the momentum of signing the joint statement, Indonesia and Morocco have decided on steps to convene the first meeting of the JTC forum and form the PTA at the end of March or early April 2019 in Jakarta," Director of Bilateral Negotiations at the Indonesian Trade Ministry Ni Made Ayu Marthini noted in a written statement released on Wednesday.

The agreement was reached after the two nations held a technical meeting in Jakarta recently.  The Indonesian delegation to the meeting was led by Ni Made Ayu Marthini, while the Moroccan delegation was chaired by senior researcher for Asia and America of the Moroccan Ministry of Industry, Investment, Trade and Digital Economy Asmaa Mkhentar.

Marthini said the two nations also agreed on the term of reference to launch the meeting of the JTC forum. JTC will not only function as a forum for holding regular bilateral meetings to discuss trade barriers but will also play a significant role in supporting the negotiations on PTA. Through the JTC forum, the governments of both nations will also discuss ways to encourage business interactions between their private sectors.

The business interactions will result in the identification of products having the trade potential to increase, so they will become the indicators of products negotiated in the PTA. (ant)

Attending an Open Debate on the Middle East Situation, including the Palestinian Issues on the UNSC (22/01)

Indonesia congratulates the Palestinians for their leadership in Group 77. This shows the trust of the international community towards Palestine

The Indonesian government, at the ASEAN-European Union Foreign Ministers Meeting, encouraged all ASEAN and European Union (EU) member states to increase their contribution to fighting for Palestinian independence. The ASEAN-European Union Foreign Ministers Meeting was held in Brussels, Belgium, on Monday (Jan 21), as noted in a written statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Indonesian Vice-Foreign Minister A.M. Fachir, leading the Indonesian delegation, delivered a speech at the meeting. He remarked that the two-state solution and humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people are the two crucial areas in which the ASEAN and EU shall continue to cooperate.

"Political differences at international forums should not discourage the commitment to solving humanitarian issues that the Palestinian people are facing," the vice minister stated.

Since the two regions have succeeded in maintaining peace and stability, the Indonesian government expects that the ASEAN and EU will inspire other regions to continue to promote a culture of dialogue and peaceful resolution to conflicts. Moreover, the ASEAN and EU need to strengthen cooperation in facing joint cross-national challenges, such as terrorism, radicalism, and irregular migration.

On the occasion, Vice Minister Fachir also invited the ASEAN and EU to strengthen partnership in contributing to solving various global challenges. In the field of economy, Indonesia has called on the ASEAN and EU to strengthen economic cooperation and to fight protectionist tendency.

The ministerial-level meeting was attended by foreign ministers or those representing 10 ASEAN member countries, 28 EU member nations, and ASEAN Secretary General. The meeting was jointly chaired by Singaporean Minister of Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan and EU Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini. The meeting discussed various regional and global issues as well as evaluated 42 years of ASEAN-EU. (ant)