"The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has lasted too long. It is time for the international community to take concrete actions to achieve peace in the Middle East through a two-state solution," the Indonesian deputy foreign minister said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia was invited to attend a conference in Paris on January 15, 2017, as the country is believed to be an important contributor to peace in the Middle East.

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister A.M. Fachir represented Indonesia at the Paris Peace Conference on Sunday, aimed at kick-starting peace talks between Israel and Palestine.

The conference concluded, with more than 70 countries, including Indonesia, and international organizations pledging their support for a two-state solution as the only way to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East region.

In a press statement issued by the Foreign Affairs Ministry here on Sunday, Fachir remarked that the invitation to attend the Paris conference was an international recognition of Indonesias commitment and complete support to the independence and struggle of the Palestinian people to realize their basic rights.

The conference focused on three key areas, including helping the Palestinian economy, strengthening its civil society, and assisting in building the future Palestinian state.

Fachir noted that the Indonesian government highlighted the importance of realizing a two-state solution for maintaining peace in Israel, Palestine, and the Middle East.

"The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has lasted too long. It is time for the international community to take concrete actions to achieve peace in the Middle East through a two-state solution," the Indonesian deputy foreign affairs minister stated.

He emphasized that peace in the Middle East, especially the independence of Palestine, can only be realized if all core issues, including illegal settlements, Palestinian refugees, the status of Jerusalem, and security issues, as well as the availability of water could be solved.

To this end, Fachir affirmed that Indonesia has welcomed the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, adopted on December 23, 2016, regarding Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem.

The resolution states that Israels settlement activity constitutes a "flagrant violation" of international law and has "no legal validity."

It demands that Israel stop such activity and fulfill its obligations as an occupying power under the Fourth Geneva Convention.

The deputy foreign affairs minister also noted that Indonesia will continue to assist the Palestinian people through offering political, humanitarian, and capacity building support.

In the meantime, Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi noted in a press statement last Tuesday that Indonesia will seek greater support for Palestinian independence through a two-state solution.

"Indonesia will never waver from its commitment to support the Palestinian struggle for independence," she said, adding that Indonesia will garner as much support as possible to realize the two-state solution.

With regard to the efforts, Indonesia supports the International Conference initiated by France and had attended the Paris meeting in June 2016 and the one on January 15, 2017.

In order to demonstrate its strong support for the Palestinian people, the Indonesian government has achieved a diplomatic breakthrough by opening an honorary consulate in Ramallah and is planning to open a House of Indonesia in Palestine.

Indonesia has also initiated the Extraordinary Summit of Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif in Jakarta in March 2016 and endorsed the Jakarta Declaration that supports the Palestinian independence through various concrete measures and breakthroughs.

In a bid to garner support, the Indonesian government has also been offering a capacity building program for over one thousand Palestinians during the last three years to prepare them to govern an independent state.

In addition, Jakarta will build an information center in Hebron, Palestines busiest city, to disseminate information on the potential economic, social, cultural, and educational scholarship opportunities in Indonesia.

This will be coordinated by the Honorary Consul of Indonesia in Ramallah, Palestine, jointly with the Indonesian Embassy in Amman, Jordan.

A statement by the Indonesian Embassy in Amman received by ANTARA here early this month revealed that the information center is one of the programs of the Palestinian Indonesian Friendship Association (PIFA), which was launched in late December 2016 in Amman, Jordan.

At the launch of PIFA, Indonesias Ambassador to Jordan and Palestine Teguh Wardoyo stated that the establishment of the association will strengthen and enhance relations between Palestinians and Indonesians.

On the occasion, the ambassador shed light on the history of Indonesias support for Palestine, which has helped build strong bilateral relations that will strengthen over time.

The relations between the citizens of both nations have grown based on mutual concern and respect, he added.

Ambassador Teguh Wardoyo also quoted Indonesian Foreign Minister Marsudis statement at the 60th anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference in 2015, "Maybe there is no international issue more important for Indonesia and is very close to the hearts of the people of Indonesia, except the Palestinian issue."

According to Nico Adam, head of political, economic, social and cultural affairs at the Indonesian Embassy in Amman, in the long term, PIFA will also build the House of Indonesia in Palestine, which will provide information on Indonesia to the local people.

The house will have an exhibition room showcasing Indonesian products and will serve as a training center for Indonesian arts, cultures, language, and culinary specialties.(*)

Reporter: Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017