VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

South Korean Ambassador to Indonesia Kim Changbeon called on Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD on Wednesday to discuss procurement of main military armament system (Alutsista), among others. The courtesy call is usual as he only assumed the post of coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs less than a month ago, Mahfud said.

The meeting also discussed President Joko Widodo's plan to visit South Korea this month to attend an international meeting. The president is scheduled to leave on November 23, he said.

The other agenda of the meeting was bilateral talks between Indonesia and South Korea that have engaged in many areas of cooperation, he said.

The meeting also highlighted a plan for cooperation in the procurement of the main military armament system, but he did not elaborate on the plan.

Asked about the cooperation between the two nations in the procurement of fighter jets KFX/IFX which is still obscure, he said he did not discuss only that with the ambassador.

"We discussed a lot of things, not only that but also investigation, armament, and trade. These issues are only a small part (of many issues). We also discussed Korean detainees held custody in Indonesia at the request of another country," he said.  (ANTARA)

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) held discussions with 14 new foreign ambassadors at the veranda of the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, after receiving their credential letters on Wednesday.

The discussion was preceded by Argentina's Ambassador to Indonesia Gustavo Arturo Torres.

The agenda was carried out by the president while welcoming new ambassadors from friendly countries to Indonesia.

An amicable and warm atmosphere was visible from the gestures and smiles exchanged by the head of state with the ambassadors.

The ambassadors then individually held a discussion with the president, who was accompanied by Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.

In addition to the Argentinian ambassador, representatives of friendly countries that held discussions with President Jokowi were Zimbabwe Ambassador to Indonesia Sophia Nyamudeza and Ambassador of the Republic of Iran to Indonesia Mohammad Khos Heikal Azad.

Furthermore, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Indonesia Drs. Lambertus Christiaan Grijns, European Union (EU) Ambassador to Indonesia Vincent Piket, Ambassador of the French Republic to Indonesia Olivier Chambard, and Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Indonesia Jalal Mirzayev also engaged in discussion with the president.

Ambassador of the Republic of Greece to Indonesia Apostolos Baltas, Ambassador of the Lao People's Democratic Republic to Indonesia Phomma Sidsena, Canadian Ambassador to Indonesia Cameron MacKay, and Ambassador of the Republic of Sierra Leone to Indonesia Ernest Mbaimba Ndomahina were the other dignitaries.

Ambassador of Nepal to Indonesia Udaya Raj Pandey, Ambassador of the Republic of Niger to Indonesia Leko Ado, and Ambassador of Montenegro to Indonesia Darko Pajovic also partook in a dialog with President Joko Widodo.

Of the 14 ambassadors, 10 are designate resident ambassadors to Indonesia and four are designate non-resident ambassadors to Indonesia.

Three ambassadors domiciled outside the country were Ambassador of Sierra Leone; Ernest Mbaimba Ndomahina in Beijing, China, Ambassador of Nepal; Udaya Raj Pandey in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Ambassador of the Niger; Leko Ado in New Delhi, India, and Ambassador of Montenegro; Darko Pajovic in Beijing, China. (ANTARA)

The Indonesian Youth and Sports Ministry is considering to grant a bonus of up to Rp200 million to every gold medal winner at the SEA Games 2019 in the Philippines.

The ministry also offers a bonus of Rp100 million to every athlete winning a silver medal and a bonus of Rp60 million to every athlete clinching a bronze medal, the ministry noted in a press statement.

In accordance with Youth and Sports Ministry Decree No. 64 of 2019, the ministry will also offer a bonus of up to Rp100 million to each coach delivering achievement at the biennial multi-sports event.

Secretary of Youth and Sports Minister Gatot S. Dewa Broto remarked that the amount of bonuses offered at the SEA Games 2019 is the same as the SEA Games 2017 in Kuala Lumpur.

"The bonuses have been made available. The value is the same as that of the earlier SEA Games," he noted.

Enlisted herewith are the bonuses offered to athletes and coaches.

1. Single athlete, gold Rp20 million, silver Rp100 million, bronze Rp60 million.
2. Double athlete: gold Rp160 million, silver Rp80 million, bronze Rp48 million.
3. Athlete's team, gold Rp100 million, silver Rp50 million, and bronze Rp30 million.
4. Single/double coach: gold Rp100 million, silver 50 million, and bronze Rp30 million,
5. Coach's team, gold Rp100 million, silver Rp65 million, bronze Rp39 million,
6. Second, etc. medalist coach, gold Rp50 million, silver Rp25 million, bronze Rp15 million,
7. Assistant single/double coach, gold Rp60 million, silver Rp30 million, bronze Rp18 million
8. Assistant coach's team, gold Rp80 million, silver Rp40million, bronze Rp24 million.
9. Second, etc. medalist assistant coach: gold Rp30 million, silver Rp15 million, bronze Rp9 million. (ANTARA)

Senior researcher of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Jusuf Wanandi expressed firm belief that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) would prioritize addressing regional instability arising from the China-US dispute sentiment.

Currently, the ASEAN has discussed so many issues in varied fields that it seemed to be unable to take a firm stand against crucial and key issues, such as the standoff in the relations between the world's two largest economies, he stated at a seminar titled "Indonesia in ASEAN” held in Jakarta on Wednesday.

"The ASEAN should be able to choose priority issues and concentrate on them, including how to strengthen the regional grouping in the face of the latest circumstances and co-exist in the global order," he pointed out.

Furthermore, critical leaders serve as other crucial points for the ASEAN to take a collective stand in the midst of tense relations between China and the United States, he stated.

Wanandi affirmed that the tense relations between China and the United States constitute natural dynamics in global relations, but they hold significance for the ASEAN over concerns that they will struggle for supremacy in the region unless member states adopt common measures.

Moreover, the tension transcends trade dispute and is also related to political issues, he stated.

"Looking ahead, the ASEAN will increasingly become difficult but also important," he added. (ANTARA)