The referendum would objectively ensure the will of the majority within the disputed lands, he explained during the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue 2023 in Singapore on Saturday.
Subianto suggested the referendum as part of an effort to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has been on for quite some time.
He suggested that first, Russia and Ukraine conduct a ceasefire and put a stop to the violence.
Second, both Russia and Ukraine withdraw their soldiers 15 kilometers away from their previous position to create a demilitarized zone.
The minister also advised the UN to form and deploy a peace observer troop along the agreed-upon demilitarized zone.
He also underlined that Indonesia is ready to contribute military observers and troops to the UN's peace observer mission.
Subianto said he believes that similar actions and the Korean Demilitarized Zone agreement were successful in ending the Korean War.
However, he acknowledged that the conflict in the Korean Peninsula between South Korea and North Korea is still on to this day.
However, in the past five decades, some form of peace could be observed—in stark contrast to mass destruction and violence against the innocent, he said.
Because of this, he stressed that now is not the time to look for parties to blame in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
However, he stressed that Indonesia rejects Russia's invasion, as conveyed through the agreement on the UN's resolution requesting Russia to stop its invasion of Ukraine.
According to Subianto, in every conflict, each party involved has their own version of the story, and both parties believe in their own righteousness.
However, for global safety and the safety of those who are innocent, conflicts should be stopped as soon as possible, he said.
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Translator: Gilang G, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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