Indonesia is valued to have good ability to develop world peacekeeping forces, although there is a little bit difference with member countries of innovative cooperation, namely Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey and Australia. This was stated by a writer of 'MIKTA book, Nanto Sriyanto: Current Situation and The Way Forward', on Monday (19/3) in Jakarta. Nanto, which is also a research of Indonesian Institute of Sciences said that Indonesia has good resources and also clear target related to peace forces development.

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“Peacekeeping operation, is one of Indonesia’s two focuses, besides that creative industry. My idea is firstly, Indonesia has clear target, Indonesia has good resources. If it needs to be added, I am more to how Indonesia supports non-enterpreneurship issue, it is the weakness in peacekeeping problem, we still have problems such as intervention norm,  like what from Indonesia and MIKTA itself has still difference. But Indonesia, can say, has institution and apparatus which can review towards there. So that Indonesia to focus to the region is quite inline.

Nanto Sriyanto added that the power of Indonesia in peacekeeping forces will more strengthen if Indonesia is selected to be non-permanent member of the UN Security Council 2019-2020 in June. But on ther side, Nanto also recognized until now MIKTA is not known yet by peoeple. Because of that, nanto also hoped there will be meeting of the States’ heads of MIKTA member for the first time. Established in 2013 on the sideline of the UN general assembly, MIKTA is innovative cooperation which centered in the field of economy and world peace. This year,  Indonesia becomes coordinator or chairman of MIKTA Cooperation Forum with the theme to creat international peace and security. Besides that, the theme gives emphasis on the importance of economic growth sustained by the creative economy.-trans-yati-(Rezha)

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stated the government is currently studying the possibility of having dual nationality for Indonesian citizens abroad.

The issue had brought up by Retno in the forum of President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo and Indonesian citizen in New Zealand.

Minister Retno Marsudi claimed the government is conducting a review regarding the dual citizenship with many diasporas.

However, the minister argued to impose the regulation was not easy which made the government enforce a national consensus by discussing the matter with all parties.

As for the time being, the government has facilitated Indonesian citizens with diaspora cards. At least, the ambassador will later disseminate Indonesian diaspora card as to accommodate Indonesian citizens living abroad.//TI

The Governments of Indonesia and Australia are seeking to immediately complete the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) negotiations, as they seek the grounds that hampered the negotiations.

Indonesian Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita stated that Australian Minister of Trade, Tourism and Investment Stephen Ciobo has affirmed his country`s commitment to finish negotiations between the two largest economies in Southeast Asia by 2018.

Indonesia`s commitment, he continued, was indicated by the visit of the Indonesian Negotiators Team to Sydney some time ago, which aimed to find common grounds on some issues that caused the delay of negotiations at the end of 2017.

The completion of the CEPA negotiations has been delayed, even though both sides have intensified the negotiations at all levels by the end of 2017. After reflecting to thoroughly examine the different positions, the two negotiating teams consulted on March 6 and 7, in Sydney.

From the meeting, the two negotiating teams identified a number of issues to be renegotiated in the near future.

Lukita and Ciobo stressed the need for a package of agreements, acceptable to both Indonesian and Australian stakeholders.//antara

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) raised gender and economic issues during a meeting with New Zealand Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy in a state visit to Wellington, also marking the 60th anniversary of Indonesia-New Zealand diplomatic relations.Bey Machmudin, head of the presidential press bureau, noted in a statement received by ANTARA on Monday that the president highlighted gender equality as a means to forge bilateral relations.President Jokowi is one of the world`s champions for the "HeForShe" campaign. The global campaign, initiated by the UN Women, has a goal of achieving equality by encouraging men and boys to serve as the agents of change and take action against inequalities faced by women and girls.As part of his commitment to improve women`s representation in decision-making processes, the president has doubled the number of women ministers at the cabinet level, from four to eight.In addition to the shared vision on addressing gender equality issues, President Jokowi noted that Indonesia and New Zealand are both archipelagic nations. With such geographical conditions, he believes that the challenge of connectivity holds significance for both countries.Indonesia and New Zealand have shared sound relations based on the two principles of mutual respect and benefit.Hence, the president opined that these sound relations should be maintained through various forms of cooperation, including in the fields of economy and people-to-people contacts.//antara