President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said the election of Indonesia to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) is a reflection of the international community`s appreciation towards the country`s track record.

The president through his official facebook account monitored on Sunday said that democracy and tolerance in Indonesia would be an asset for the country to play an active role in the UN Security Council.

"The Indonesia`s role at the global level will increase with the election of the country to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2019-2020 period representing Asia-Pacific," he remarked.

Jokowi also mentioned that in the (recent) United Nations General Assembly`s session, Indonesia gained 144 votes from the 190 UN member countries attending the session. "This support exceeds two-thirds of the UN members," he disclosed.

He also affirmed the mandate of the international community to Indonesia which should become a concern to be carried out as good as possible.

"The mandate of the international community to Indonesia, will be run as good as possible to make a real contribution to peace, humanity and prosperity in the region and globally," he pointed out.

The president at the same time appreciated and congratulated the Indonesian diplomats who have brought Indonesia into a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Indonesia, which will officially fill the seat as of January 1, 2019, defeated the Maldives by 144 votes to 46 after 190 UN member-countries cast their votes.

Besides Indonesia, four other countries were also elected non-permanent members of the UNSC -- South Africa for Africa; the Dominican Republic for Latin America and the Caribbean; and Germany and Belgium for Western Europe and other countries.

Indonesia had previously been a Non-Permanent Member of the UNSC in 1973-1974, 1995-1996, and 2007-2008.

The Security Council has 15 members -- five permanent (United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China) and 10 non-permanent serving for two years. (ANTARA)

The Women of Indonesia’s Seven Summits Expedition Mahitala-Unpar (WISSEMU) team which has conquered the seven highest peaks on seven continents is the pride of the nation, Chief Presidential Staff Moeldoko said.

"Congratulations on the outstanding achievements. You have become the pride of the nation, inflame the name of Indonesia in the international world, so that outsiders can no longer underestimate our country," Moeldoko said in a written statement received by ANTARA news agency in Yogyakarta on Sunday.

Moeldoko who is a former Indonesian Miltary (TNI) commander for the 2013-2015 periods also said the struggle made by Didi and Mathilda is not easy.

"These are great people who are always making challenges as needs. The spirit of facing this challenge should be made viral to younger generation."

Indonesian female climbers, Fransiska Dimitri Inkiriwang (24) and Mathilda Dwi Lestari (24) managed to fly the Red and White flag on the summit of Everest on May 17, 2018, at 7:15 a.m Indonesian Western Standard Time (WIB).

They completed the 7 summits ascent of the seven highest mountains of the seven continents. The efforts to conquer the seven summits have been made since 2014.

WISSEMU General Manager Sebastian Karamoy said the Seven Summits expedition was undertaken with four years of hard work, both in preparation for climbers, teams and economic resources.

Mathilda Dwi Lestari expressed gratitude because the Red and White flag can fly in seven world peaks. "This success is our dedication to national unity. For you Indonesia," she said. (ANTARA)

Indonesia and Norway strengthen collaboration on marine spatial planning to balance the management of economic benefits and efforts to restructure sea space in the national waters.

"Norway has a number of excellent programs for sustainable marine spatial planning, such as Fish for Development, Marine Spatial Management Plans and Ocean Waste Management," Norway Foreign Ministry representative Jens Frolich Holte said in a press release from the Indonesian Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry on Sunday.

Norway, he said, has a great interest in reducing marine waste.

"We believe that plastic waste can adversely affect the quality of seafood that will be consumed," Holte said.

One of Norway`s commitments to reduce marine waste is through a trust fund used to help countries reduce sea waste.

This trust fund is provided through various determinations, one of them through the World Bank, and is channeled to countries requiring assistance for waste management at sea, including Indonesia.

Indonesian Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti welcomed the Norwegian assistance.

"We greatly appreciate Norway`s assistance in Indonesia`s efforts to reduce marine waste," she said.

The minister said the reduction of marine waste is one of Indonesia`s main policies related to maritime governance, in addition to the eradication of illegal fishing which has been the priority of the ministry to improve fishery governance in Indonesia.

Pudjiastuti also stressed that the use of trust fund is allocated to help communities on small islands that feel the direct impact of marine waste.

Furthermore, Minister Pudjiastuti invited Norwegian Foreign Minister to participate in the implementation of Our Ocean Conference (OOC) 2018 which is scheduled to take place on 29-30 October 2018, at Nusa Dua Convention Center, Bali, Indonesia. (ANTARA)

Vice President Jusuf Kalla left for Japan in Jakarta on Sunday evening to attend the 24th International Conference on "Asian Future" in Tokyo.

He is scheduled to meet over dinner with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other Asian countries’ leaders on Monday evening as part of the conference agenda.

On Tuesday Kalla will deliver a keynote speech on the Future of Asia. He is also scheduled to receive courtesy calls of Vietnamese prime minister Truong Hoa Binh, New Zealand`s minister of economic development David Parker and the chairman of the Japan-Indonesia Association, Yasuo Fukuda.

The annual forum organized by Nikkei is also attended by Malaysian prime minister Mahathir bin Mohammad, Korean Deputy Prime Minister Kim Dong-Yeon, Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh and Singapore`s Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean. (ANTARA)