"The Indonesian government must ensure all Indonesian citizens in Ukraine can be evacuated in a bid to offer protection and security to Indonesian citizens in Ukraine," Soesatyo noted in his statement here on Friday.
Soesatyo urged the government, through the Indonesian Embassy in Bucharest, to keep in touch, monitor, and protect Indonesians, who could not be evacuated yet since they had contracted COVID-19 or for other reasons.
The MPR speaker noted that the government must ensure to fulfil all needs, including food and security, of Indonesian citizens in Ukraine.
Related news: Eighty Indonesian citizens evacuated from Ukraine reach Tangerang
"I also appeal to Indonesian citizens, who have or are being evacuated to Indonesia, to not rush back to Ukraine until the conflict and war between Russia and Ukraine are completely over," he emphasized.
In addition, Soesatyo called on the Indonesian government to continue to implement an independent and active foreign policy and to encourage the conflict resolution process by prioritizing humanitarian principles, as there are no signs of peace yet between Russia and Ukraine.
According to Soesatyo, the MPR pushes for putting an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine and for peacefully resolving the conflict through diplomacy.
Earlier, as many as 80 Indonesian citizens, who were evacuated from Ukraine, landed at the Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang City, Banten Province, on Thursday and were received by Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi.
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The evacuees arrived at 5:10 p.m. Western Indonesian Standard Time (WIB) aboard an aircraft of Indonesian flag carrier Garuda Indonesia.
At a press conference, Marsudi affirmed that apart from the 80 Indonesian citizens, three foreigners were also evacuated to the country. Those three foreigners are family members of the evacuated Indonesians.
Those 80 Indonesians and three foreigners were picked up from Bucharest, Romania, after leaving Ukraine following Russia’s military attack on the country.
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Translator: Imam Budilaksono, Raka Adji
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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