MINISTER of Foreign Affairs (Menlu) Retno Marsudi said Indonesia would not normalize relations with Israel. The Minister of Foreign Affairs admitted that there was pressure on the Indonesian government regarding this matter.
“From time to time there are always parties who say that it is time for Indonesia to carry out normalization, to make a position, we are clear as I said,” stressed the Minister of Foreign Affairs after a limited meeting chaired by President Joko Widodo or Jokowi at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Tuesday ( 4/16).
The Minister of Foreign Affairs was reluctant to specify what kind of pressure Indonesia was under. However, he emphasized that Indonesia’s position remains in favor of Palestinian independence. Meanwhile, Israel is the country that annexed Palestine.
“There are so many, that’s normal in the international world, expectations and pressure. But so far our position remains no (no),” stressed the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
As reported, many countries are observing the tense situation in the Middle East after Israel was attacked by Iran. Iran launches explosive drones and missiles at Israel. This was Israel’s retaliation attack on the Iranian embassy compound in Syria two weeks ago. The Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the Indonesian government would talk to the relevant parties to exercise restraint so that there would be no escalation.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs revealed that the countries he was talking to to prevent war from happening included the United States, which has always been Israel’s partner.
Also read: Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi raises the Palestinian issue at the G20
“So (with) America, apart from exchanging messages, this morning we also had a telephone conversation. We did it because we know that the United States has a very big role in being able to use its influence so that de-escalation occurs,” explained the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the Indonesian government had good bilateral relations with Iran. RI hopes that Iran will not carry out attacks again that will trigger escalation in the Middle East.
“I spoke directly with the Iranian foreign minister for almost 1 hour, 50 minutes and I also conveyed that escalation would not bring benefits to anyone. So we will continue our diplomatic efforts,” he said. (Eng/Z-7)
#pressure #Foreign #Minister #stressed #Indonesia #normalize #relations #Israel