VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

National Zakat Agency (BAZNAS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nation Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The MOU is an effort to provide assistance and protection to the Palestinians that become conflict victims in their country. The MOU was signed at the Pancasila building of Foreign Affairs Ministry Office on Tuesday, October 16^th 2018. The Vice Chairman of BAZNAS, Zainulbahar Noor and UNRWA Chairman signed the MOU. BAZNAS also provides donation to Jordan Hashemite Charity organization for Palestinian. Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister, Retno Marsudi who witnessed the signing of the MOU said that what BAZNAS did was the first innovation of distributing zakat in Indonesia.

“The third is National Zakat Agency Baznas as we have witnessed earlier have donated to the UNRWA and Jordan Hashemite charity organization for the Palestinian refugees. This is the first innovation where zakat can be channeled for the refugees, in this case, Palestinian refugees,” said Retno Marsudi.

On the same occasion BAZNAS Vice Chairman, Zainulbahar Noor explained that the MOU was signed focusing on the Palestinian refugees issues that is vurnarable and depends on the UNRWA donation. According to him, BAZNAS is committed to helping the Palestinian people, includingthe refugees who are currently under UNRWA protection. The number of refugees listed is five million people that spread in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Coast and Gaza Strip. He added that Baznas has held a charity event for the Palestinians for two years and the donation will be given to UNRWA to support their programs especially in education and health by cooperating with the local and international agencies. (VOI/VIQRAN/Trans :NK/AHM)

Indonesian government asked Australia and other countries to support peace keeping process between Palestine and Israel that has been continuously done to give solutions for the two states. It was affirmed by Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister, Retno Marsudi during a press  conference with Palestine Foreign Affairs Minister Riyad Al Maliki at the Pancasila Building in Jakarta on Tuesday (16/10/2018) to respond Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison’s statement that Australia is open on the possibility to move their embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, eventhough they have committed on the two states solution.  

“Indonesia has asked Australia and other countries to continue to support Palestine-Israel peace keeping process in line with the principle that has been agreed and not to take any steps that can threat the peace process itself and the world’s security stability. Indonesia’s support to Palestine is the trust of the constitution,” said Retno Marsudi.

Moreover, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has summoned Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Gary Quinlan to the Indonesian Foreign Ministry office on Tuesday afternoon (16/10) in connection to the plan. Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Spokesman, Armantha Nasir told RRI World Service Voice of Indonesia in Jakarta that Quinlan was summoned for an explanation from the Australian government about its plan to move its embassy to Yerusalem.

“We stated our position on Australia’s statement on Tuesday, October 16^th 2018 in connection to the Palestine issues,” said Armanatha.

Ambassador Quinlan arrived at the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry office at 05.15 and met with Minister Retno Marsudi. After their meeting, Quinlan told the media that Australian position will not change and still support two state solution where Palestine and Israel can live side by side peacefully. (VOI/VIQRAN/Trans: NK/DP)

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a public diplomacy dialogue themed "Indonesia-Korea Toward a People-Centered Community of Peace and Prosperity" at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jakarta, Monday (15/10). On that occasion, the Director General of Information and Public Diplomacy of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cecep Herawan specifically told that South Korea had strength in terms of public diplomacy so that Indonesia could learn from the experience of the country in delivering a message of peace throughout the world.

"We realize that Korea has strength in public diplomacy. It has what is called the Korean Wave, where through K-Pop, K-Drama, they are able to introduce Korea to all corners of the world. I think with the richness of Indonesian culture, we should be able to do the same thing as learning from experiences owned by South Korea," said Cecep Herawan.

Cecep Herawan added, the dialogue on public diplomacy between Indonesia and South Korea is a commitment between the governments of the two countries in carrying out the Special Strategic Partnership. The aim is that each community has the same insight or knowledge about public diplomacy. Meanwhile for the South Korean government, this public diplomacy dialogue is a means of disseminating information on the development of the peace process that took place on the Korean peninsula which can be conveyed to the whole world, especially to Asia. Public diplomacy dialogue about Indonesia and South Korea was also attended by the Director General of Information and Public Diplomacy as well as South Korea's Deputy Foreign Minister, Bahk Sahng-Hoon, South Korean Ambassador to Indonesia, Kim Chang-Beom and Incheon National University professor, Lee Hochul. (VOI/VIQRAN/AHM)