VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

At least 74 delegates from neighboring countries are scheduled to attend the commemoration of the Asian-African Conference packed in a carnival on April 29. This was conveyed by the Head of Marketing Department of Culture and Tourism of Bandung, West Java, Aswin Sulaeman, as quoted by Antara, on Saturday(14/4). It will be the 4th carnival event held in Bandung. Aswin Sulaeman also said that delegates will walk on the main streets or tracking the history of the 1955 Asian-African Conference. In addition to the Asian-African carnival, the technical implementation unit of the Asian African Conference Museum also held various activities. Moreover, a series of commemorations of the Asian-African Conference has been going on since last March. The series of activities will be closed with flag-raising ceremony of 109 Asian-African countries and the United Nations by 400 scouts from Bandung Scouts Movement. (Antara/trs.Rezha)

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has designated Mount Rinjani in the Indonesian island of Lombok as a world geopark, a spokesman stated.

"Thank God, I have just received news at its meeting in Paris on Thursday (Apr 13) that the UNESCO executive board has designated Geopark Rinjani as a new member of the UNESCO Global Parks," General Manager of Geopark Rinjani Chairul Mahsul stated on Saturday.

Mahsul, who is also an assistant for economy and development of the secretariat of the West Nusa Tenggara provincial administration, expressed gratitude to all parties for their assistance in achieving the Global Geopark status.

"I should like to thank all my Rinjani friends that have helped achieve the Global Geopark status," he noted.

Mount Rinjani is located in the Mount Rinjani National Park that straddles the four districts of Lombok Utara, Lombok Barat, Lombok Tengah, and Lombok Timur in West Nusa Tenggara Province.

One of the charms of the national park is Lake Segara Anak, located 2,010 meters above sea level. Part of the lake is located in the 3,726-meter-high volcano. (ANTARA)

To protect Indonesian citizens abroad, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs makes use of information and communication technology by launching the Safe Travel application. The Android and iOS smart phone-based application was officially launched by Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, in Jakarta, on Saturday (14/4). Minister Retno Marsudi said the launch of Safe Travel application is one of Indonesian foreign policies that prioritizes the protection of Indonesian citizens.

“So, we’ve just launched Safe Travel application. The application can be accessed through multiple platforms, because previously in January 2017 we launched in the form of maps, now we can access through various ways. The question is why Safe Travel, the shortest answer is in the framework of protection. Because the protection of Indonesian Citizens, as it was stressed by the President, is a priority of Indonesian foreign policy,” Retno Marsudi said.

Minister Retno Marsudi moreover added there are several advantages of the Safe Travel application. Through the application, the Indonesian citizens will get complete information about 180 countries related to security level and vulnerability of  a country marked with color indicator, as well as information related to complete address and contact from Indonesia’s representatives in that country. Complete information related to the rule of law, currency, place of worship, culinary, and tourist attraction in a country can also be known through this application. In addition to present various kinds of information from 180 countries in the world, the Safe Travel application can also be used to organize travel and direct contact with the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs both at home and abroad. One of them can be done by using panic button feature or emergency button to send photos, videos, coordinates of the location, and to contact the nearest Indonesian representative offices. (VOI/Rezha/NT)    

Related to situation in Syria which  is getting worse, after the air strikes conducted by the United States in Damascus, Syria's capital, the Indonesian Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to monitor the current situation in the country. The main objective of such monitoring related with thousands of Indonesian citizens still living in Syria. This was stated by the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi in Jakarta, on Saturday, April 14.

“Since last week, we have been constantly monitoring the situation, because there are still thousands of Indonesian citizens living in Syria. Therefore we consistently convey the principles of international law. Surely we express our concerns about the current situation in Syria and we also ask all parties to restraint, to avoid an escalation,” said Retno Marsudi.

Minister Retno Marsudi added that Indonesia has made all parties either involved directly or not, to protect the environment and civil society, especially women and children. In addition, Indonesia also continues to emphasize the importance of conflict resolution, negotiation process and peaceful means. Related to the Indonesian citizens residing in Syria, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested that they immediately report themselves and continue to communicate with the Indonesian Embassy in Damascus. (VOI/Rezha/Edt.N)