VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta : Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan stated that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) had approved the proposal of flight information region (FIR) takeover from Singapore to Indonesia.

"Singapore used to have control over the air space above the Riau and Natuna Islands at an altitude of 0-37 thousand feet," the minister remarked on Saturday.

Pandjaitan spoke of having received this report while undergoing health recovery in Singapore on January 11, 2024.

Furthermore, 60 days after the publication of information regarding these changes, the Indonesian airspace, which had earlier been designated as a Singapore FIR, completely returned as an Indonesian FIR.

With the official implementation of the transfer of the Singapore FIR to the Indonesian FIR, Pandjaitan stated that the government's policy regarding aviation services will make Indonesia's air space safer, more competitive, and attractive for the civil aviation industry.

"We hope that the management of Indonesian air space that is safe, effective, in line with national interests, and meets international civil aviation service standards can be achieved," he remarked.

Apart from the FIR agreement, he noted that the defense cooperation and fugitive extradition agreement between Indonesia and Singapore were also implemented.

"This is important, considering that those issues are bilateral issues that have not been resolved between the two countries for a long time," he remarked.

He stated that the diplomatic approach of Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long facilitated the establishment of the agreement.

However, he reminded that the agreement should not put aside national interests.

Based on President Widodo's directions, Pandjaitan had also partaken in establishing sound communication with Singapore Senior Minister Teo Che Hean.

"All steps were taken to prioritize strengthening bilateral relations and respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the two countries," he emphasized. (Antara)

VOINews, Jakarta : Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi has said that the month of Ramadan provides an opportunity to foster a sense of togetherness and promote tolerance and friendship. 

This was affirmed by Minister  Retno Marsudi when attending the 2024 Pejambon Ifthar activity which was held at the Nusantara Room, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia in Jakarta on Friday (22/3.

”Ramadan always provides us a good opportunity to make ourselves a better human being, and a good opportunity to nurture the feeling of togetherness and friendship.This Holy Ramadan also represents a chance for all of us to promote tolerance and ukhuwah,” She conveyed.

Moreover, Minister Retno Marsudi also reminded that the Indonesian people must continue to be grateful because they can gather comfortably while the Palestinians are still fighting for their independence.  Therefore,  she also affirmed that the Indonesian government is committed to helping the Palestinians by continuing to send humanitarian aid to Gaza. (VOI-Ranov-Mar/  AF-Rahmana)

VOInews, Jakarta: To enliven the celebration of 70 Years of Bilateral Relations between Indonesia and Austria, the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Vienna presented a Keroncong Jam Session through Zugabe Band’s show at the World Museum (Weltmuseum). Indonesian Ambassador to Austria, Slovenia, the UN, and International Organizations in Vienna Damos Dumoli Agusman said that Austria and Indonesia have similarities in cultural interests such as music.

"Entering the 70th year of their bilateral relations, Austria and Indonesia have many similarities, including a love of music as an expression of the rich culture of the two countries' civilizations. "Austria has classical music, while one of the riches of Indonesian traditional music which has Western elements is the Keroncong genre," said Damos in an official statement received on Thursday (21/3) in Jakarta.

The Indonesian Embassy in Vienna said that the performance in the spectacular area of the Columned Hall in one of the famous ethnographic museums in the city of Vienna was attended by around 200 invited participants from diplomatic circles from ASEAN countries, the Austrian government, as well as friendly countries and partners.

Damos believes that the reason the Indonesian Embassy in Vienna presented a keroncong music performance was that keroncong music is a combination of traditional Eastern music which contains western music elements.

“Why Keroncong music? Because it is one of Indonesia's musical heritages which combines elements of traditional Eastern music such as Arabic, Indian, and Indonesian music, along with Western music elements, especially European such as Portuguese and Spanish. "Over time, Keroncong has also evolved with various music genres from pop to dangdut," he said.

Meanwhile, one of the visitors, a Viennese citizen, Htun Aung, admitted that he was amazed and did not expect that the person performing Keroncong music was an Indonesian diplomat because he put on a very good performance.

“A Spectacular performance by the Zugabe Band. The quality of the musicians' playing and vocals doubts that they are Indonesian diplomats. "The full support of all the staff of the Indonesian Embassy/PTRI in Vienna and the entire Indonesian community shows the intrinsic strength of Indonesia," said Htun Aung, a resident of Myanmar in the city of Vienna who was also present to enjoy the Keroncong performance. (Ranov)

VOI, Qatar - The Indonesian Embassy in Doha, in collaboration with the Special Branch of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PCINU) in Qatar, held the 2nd Indonesian Ramadan Festival at the Indonesian Embassy in Doha on Saturday 16 March 2024. The event was initiated to strengthen the brotherhood of the Indonesian Diaspora and to promote the richness of Indonesian culture and Ramadan traditions to the international community, especially to Qatari citizens.

The Ramadan Festival is enlivened with various educational activities and cultural themes, such as a Calligraphy Colouring Competition aimed at children, Story Telling for Teens which provides space for teenagers to share thoughts about Ramadan, a Culinary Bazaar which displays the richness of Indonesian culinary delights and a Book Review. "This Ramadhan Festival is a vehicle to share joy with everyone, especially children," said Ali Musthofa, Rais Syuriah PCINU Qatar.

The Indonesian Ambassador to Qatar, Ridwan Hassan welcomed this activity. "Apart from being a place for friendship, this activity is also a tool to pass on the values of good religious life to children." said Ambassador Ridwan Hassan.

Festival activities were attended by at least 300 people. Activities are supported by various parties such as the Unpad Alumni Association in Qatar, the Indonesian Community Association in Qatar (Permiqa), Bank Central Asia representing Qatar and Indonesian restaurants in Qatar. (Daniel)