VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The 73rd UN General Assembly 2018 has started since Monday (24/9) at the UN Headquarters in New York, United States. Leaders from all member countries attended the meeting led by the UN Secretary General Antonio Gutteres. At the General Assembly Indonesia is represented by Vice President Jusuf Kalla accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi. In a press statement received by Voice of Indonesia on Tuesday (25/9), Retno Marsudi explained the theme raised at the General Assembly is 'Making UN Relevant on People, Global Leadership and Share Responsibility for Peaceful, Equitable and Sustainable Society'. She said the UN encourages global leadership which is very important for the world’s peace and prosperity. On the first day, Retno added, Vice President Jusuf Kalla attended three high-level meetings. While she has conducted a number of bilateral meetings.

"How the UN can encourage global leadership is very important for the world’s peace and prosperity. For today a number of events have been held. At the high level, Indonesian Vice President has attended, firstly, three high level meetings on global peace, secondly the issue of financing and sustainable development goals, and thirdly about sustainable ocean economy. While I myself have held a number of bilateral meetings, among others, with the Arab League, Greece, Colombia, Solomon Island and Saudi Arabia," Retno Marsudi said.

In addition, Retno Marsudi said she was one of the Foreign Ministers who was invited to discuss the situation in Rakhine State, Myanmar. However, she did not ellaborate the contents of the meeting. In the 73rd UN General Assembly Session, Indonesia has a special agenda to urge the United Nations to return to the issue of Palestinian independence. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia Zuhair Al Shun had previously asked all elements of Indonesian society to support the speech that President Mahmoud Abbas would deliver later on Thursday, September 27, 2018. (VOI/Rezha/AHM)