VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOInews, Jakarta: The Palestinian delegation to the United Nations is pushing for a vote to be recognized as a full member state next month, Ambassador Riyad Mansour said Wednesday, a move opposed by the United States.

"We are seeking admission. That is our natural and legal right," Mansour said, adding that he was pushing for an April 18 vote at the Security Council.

"Everyone is saying 'two-state solution,' then what is the logic of denying us to become a member state?" he added.

Any request to become a UN member state must first pass a vote by the Security Council -- where Israel's ally the United States and four other countries wield vetoes -- and then be endorsed by a two-thirds majority in the General Assembly.

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas originally launched the statehood application in 2011. It was not considered by the Security Council, but the General Assembly the following year granted a more limited observer status to the "State of Palestine."

The Palestinian Authority submitted a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres asking for the Security Council to reconsider on Tuesday.

Source: AFP

File - Indonesian weightlifter Eko Yuli Irawan performs the snatch lift in the men's 61 kg category during the 2023 SEA Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on May 13, 2023. (ANTARA PHOTOS/Muhammad Adimaja/aww/nbl) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : The Indonesian Olympic Committee (NOC) applauded lifter Eko Yuli Irawan for his fifth Olympic participation streak after passing the qualifications for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. 

"He has made a new historical feat in Indonesian sports by becoming the first athlete to compete in five consecutive Olympics," NOC Indonesia Chairperson Raja Sapta Oktohari said in a press release on Wednesday.

Irawan secured a spot to compete in the 2024 Olympics after completing a 133 kg snatch at the International Weightlifting World Cup in Phuket, Thailand, on Tuesday.

However, the 34-year-old lifter did not complete his clean-and-jerk due to his ongoing recovery from a knee injury.

The 2024 Olympics will be Irawan's fifth consecutive Olympics since his first appearance at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The lifter had won silver medals in the 2016 and 2020 Olympics and bronze medals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

Oktohari said that NOC Indonesia is glad that Irawan qualified again for the Olympics. He stated that Irawan's consistency in presenting his best performance should be exemplary for other Indonesian athletes.

He hailed Indonesian weightlifters for always participating in the Olympics and contributing medals for the nation's contingent. He also appealed for support from Indonesians to win the gold medal at the 2024 Olympics.

"We hope we can get our first gold medal in Paris in 2024," Oktohari stated.

According to NOC Indonesia, eight athletes have qualified to participate in the 2024 Olympics. They are Eko Yuli Irawan from weightlifting, Arif Dwi Pangestu and Diananda Choirunisa from archery, and Rifda Irfanaluthfi from gymnastics.

Meanwhile, Desak Made Rita Kusuma Dewi and Rahmad Adi Mulyono from sport climbing, Fathur Gustafian from shooting, and Rio Waida from surfing also qualified for the Olympics//ANTARA-VOI

Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister, Retno Marsudi (Photo : Antara) -  

VOInews, Jakarta : Minister of Indonesian Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi held a meeting with ambassadors from Arab countries in Jakarta, Tuesday (2/4) to discuss developments in the Palestinian issue, especially the crisis in the Gaza Strip. 

During the discussion which lasted for one hour, Retno conveyed the importance of united attitudes and positions in supporting the struggle of the Palestinian people, as well as having a moral responsibility to support Palestine.

Indonesia and Arab countries can focus on ensuring the implementation of Resolution 2728 of the UN Security Council (UNSC) 2024 - which contains the issue of a ceasefire. The Indonesian Foreign Minister’s meeting with representatives of Arab countries was attended by seven ambassadors, namely from Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Syria, Oman and Egypt. 

In addition, 13 officials representing the embassies of Bahrain, Mauritania, Yemen,Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Libya, Qatar, Kuwait, Tunisia,Sudan, Somalia and Morocco also participated in the meeting//ANTARA-VOI

Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi (Photo : Archive VOI) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : Minister of Indonesian Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi condemnedIsrael’s attacks on Iraniandiplomatic buildings and facilities inDamascus, Syria. In her written statement on Tuesday (2/4), ForeignMinister Retno called the action a violation of international law whichclearly stipulates that diplomatic facilities must be protected.

TheIndonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the attack was one ofmany Israeli actions that increased the escalation of the conflict andcould erase the prospects for peace in the Middle East region. A topcommander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and sixother officers were killed in a missile attack targeting the IranianConsulate in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Monday (1/4).

However,Israel Military Radio said the Iranian Embassy was not the target of theattack, but rather a nearby building that served as the IRGC’s militaryheadquarters in Damascus was bombed, without admitting that theattack was carried out by Tel Aviv//ANTARA-VOI