Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) expressed the two-state solution step in his meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Jakarta Convention Center where the OIC gathering takes place.
"Indonesia supports the struggle of Palestine for its independence in accordance with the two state solution framework as well as the United Nations relevant resolutions," the foreign ministrys press release quoted President Jokowi as saying.
On the occasion, President Jokowi reiterated that the supports given by Indonesia (to Palestine) is the countrys commitment to reach the independence and sovereignty of Palestine.
In meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas, President Jokowi was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan and Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.
"This extraordinary summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is a concrete support of Indonesia and OIC for Palestine," the president said when greeting Abbas.
Jokowi said the summit is expected to build strong unity among OIC member countries in supporting the interests of Palestine and the South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in all fields.
In the meeting, the Indonesian president appreciated Palestine for its trust to Indonesia in organizing the Fifth Extraordinary Summit of OIC.
"This is an honor of us for being trusted in hosting the summit to support Palestine and Al Quds Alsyarif," Jokowi said.
The extraordinary summit which will officially be opened on Monday (March 7) is expected to produce two documents on Palestine and on Al-Quds As Syarif (the Holy City of Jerusalem), namely a resolution and a declaration.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the resolution document will contain the reconfirmation of the OIC members, focusing on Palestine and Jerusalem where the Al-Aqsa Mosque is located.
On the other hand, the declaration document will be more terse and simple containing concrete steps ahead to follow up issues that have been agreed upon by OIC countries with regard to Palestine and Jerusalem.
Earlier, Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Mikhail Galuzin stated that Indonesia has influence to contribute for realization of a two-state solution of Palestine and Israel.
Indonesia having the worlds largest Muslim population, was very influential in the Asia-Pacific region, so it could contribute effectively and successfully to the international efforts to reach the two state-solution, Galuzin said during an interview with Antara prior to the fifth Extraordinary Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Palestine and Al Quds Al Sharif,
"We hope that during the OIC Extraordinary Meeting, we will also contribute to the fastest possible of the Palestinian issues," noted Galuzin, who is representing the Russian Government in the Summit being held in Jakarta, from March 6 and 7.
Russia plays three roles during the OIC Extraordinary Summit, namely as one of OIC observer countries, a member of Quartet group on Palestine-Israel negotiation and a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Galuzin said Russia has recognized Palestinian independence and its autonomous government, as well as consistently follows the UN resolutions on Palestine.
"The Palestinian Embassy is already in Moscow," he said.
Besides the matter of the Palestinian independence, Galuzin said Palestine is very important for Russia as the occupation in the country contributed on the refugees influx in Europe.
"This present situation is related to the situation in Palestine that has not been solved or settled. This is why Palestine is very important for Russia," he said.
During the Summit in Jakarta, Galuzin emphasized that Russia would contribute greatly in lifting the restriction on access to Al Quds (Jerusalem) and in reaching a just, comprehensive and long term solution of the two state-solution for Palestine and Israel.
The OIC Extraordinary Summitis participated by more than 500 delegates from 49 member countries of the OIC, three observers, four Quartet members, and five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Meanwhile, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said here on Friday that Indonesia plans to encourage leaders of Hamas and Fatah, at the 5th OIC Summit, to reconcile with each other to realize the goal of Palestinian independence,
"The OIC Extraordinary Summit will discuss Palestine with regard to settling conflicts. What is important for Indonesia is how Hamas and Fatah, West Bank and Gaza, would unite," he said.
He said if the leaders of the Palestinian groups continued to argue, it would be difficult for Islamic countries to support Palestinian independence.
"If they are still separated and involved in conflict, how can they solve their own problems?" he asked.
A political observer of Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic State University (UIN) in Ciputat, Banten province, Ali Munhanif on Saturday that results of the 5th Organization of Islamic Cooperation Extraordinary Summit should yield some tangible and measurable step to help liberate Palestine, instead of only issuing a declaration, an observer has stated.
"(A mere) Declaration is not enough," said, adding that the declaration should be followed up with strategy and international diplomacy in a bid to push the agenda of the world recognizing Palestine, particularly the United Nations.
Munhanif further said that the strategy can be formulated and internationally supported, so that an international recognition for Palestine comes sooner.
"The OIC must come up with a measurable strategy to free up Al Aqsa," the observer pointed out.
In addition, he noted that the issue of the Palestinian territories captured by Israel was at the heart of the problem in the Middle East and the Islamic world.
Unfortunately, the Palestinian issue tends to be displaced by other issues that are less important, such as sectarian issues and the Arab Spring upheavals.
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Reporter: Bustanuddin
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
