VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Embassy of the State of Palestine, in Jakarta on Wednesday (05/02/2020), held an event in support of the Palestine cause and rejection of, what it terms, the “illegal deal of the century”. Speaking at the event, the Deputy Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Indonesia Taher Hamad, gave a passionate speech about the history of Palestine and told the audience how the "Deal of the Century" ignores many of the finer details.

“They keep the Jewish settlement on Palestinian land which was occupied in 1967. And there is around 136 settlements in West bank and Jerusalem with 720,000 settlers. The second reason, there is any United Nation resolution, the right of the refugees to return back to their homeland. We reject this deal because of the refugees,” he said.

He also noted that the deal doesn’t address the thousands of Palestinian prisoners who are currently held in Israeli jails. He said the history of Palestine provides for the rights of Muslims and Christians to peacefully practice their religion and called upon the Muslim and Christian communities from across the world to reject this deal.  He thanked the Muslim community of the world and the US Congress for their support and also thanked the American people who held protests in New York against this deal. (VOI/SAYEE SHREE L.R/AHM)

Indonesia and Russia celebrated the 70th Anniversary of their diplomatic relations on Monday (3/2), with the unveiling of the “Necklace of the Equator” featuring Russian artworks depicting Indonesian culture. Officials from both countries opened the event with speeches, a reception, and a ribbon cutting ceremony, before visitors were invited for a first look at the artwork, along with a historical archive of photographs and documents from the 20th Century. The Acting Deputy Minister of American and EU Affairs from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Teuku Faizasyah, highlighted the ties of respect between the nations and their opportunities moving into the future.

Former President Soekarno decided to build this gallery following his first visit to Russia in 1956, which included a visit to an art gallery in Russia. As we reflect on our relations, we can see that there are ups and downs. But we can say with confidence that there are growing optimisms for what we can do together as friends. The bilateral relations of our twocountries has entered a new phase, with the signing in 2003 of a declaration of the regulation of friendly and participation.

The Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Lyudmila Vorobieva and the event’s curator Vladimir Nikolaevich Anisimov also expressed their happiness for the “great success” of the event. The exhibit displayed details of the good relationship between former President Soekarno and the Soviet Union following Indonesia’s independence declaration in the 1950’s. Also featured were colourful artworks by Russian artists O. Melnivoka, Anna Miloserdova, and V Popov, among others. (VOI/LAURA GREEN/AHM)

Indonesia's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport has, since Wednesday, Feb 5, halted flight services from Jakarta to several cities in China to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus.

Airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II President Director Muhammad Awaluddin noted in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday that the company had coordinated with all stakeholders in connection with the policy.

"We have prepared this with all stakeholders, especially all airlines that serve flights from Jakarta to China and vice versa. We are optimistic that all parties would understand about the temporary suspension of flights," he stated.

Soekarno-Hatta is the only airport, under the AP II management, serving regular or scheduled flights to China.

"PT Angkasa Pura II strongly supports efforts to prevent the entry of the new coronavirus. Soekarno-Hatta has operated a thermal scanner and conducted surveillance to identify passengers, who have contracted the coronavirus," Awaluddin remarked.

Mentioned herewith is the list of the last six flights in Soekarno-Hatta to and from China on February 4, 2020:

Arrival flights included China Southern CZ0387 serving the Guangzhou-Jakarta route; China Eastern MU5069 serving the Shanghai-Jakarta route, and Air China CA0977 serving the Beijing-Jakarta route.

Departure flights comprised China Southern CZ0388A serving the Jakarta-Guangzhou TD; China Eastern MU5070 serving the Jakarta-Shanghai route, and Air China CA0978 serving the Jakarta-Beijing route.

On Wednesday, there were 16 permits for flight routes from Soekarno-Hatta to China and vice versa. The route permits were aimed at serving flights to and from Beijing, Guangzhou Baiyun, Shenzhen Bao'an, Shanghai Pudong, Kunming, Nanning, Haikou Meilan, Fuzhou Changle, and Xiamen Gaoqi

Total aircraft movements serving those routes reached 143 trips per week.

Air China, Southern China, Garuda Indonesia, Batik Air, Lion Air, Xiamen, Eastern China, Sriwijaya Air, and Federal Express are the airlines serving flights to and from China.

"Around 16-20 flight slots per day are idle since flights to and from China are temporarily closed that is a new opportunity for Soekarno-Hatta to be able to expand flight connectivity to other countries or to maximize existing routes," Awaluddin stated.

Destinations that can be explored included Turkey and Australia, and South Asian nations, including India, Pakistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. (ANTARA)

Indonesia clocked an economic growth of 5.02 percent last year, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).

The growth dipped slightly in comparison with 5.17 percent in 2018 and 5.07 percent in 2017, BPS Chief Suharyanto noted in a press conference held in Jakarta on Wednesday.

"Under such current circumstances, it is not easy to maintain a growth of five percent. I think the 5.02-percent growth that shows weakening is quite good," he added. (ANTARA)