Jakarta (ANTARA) - Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi briefed Vice President Ma'ruf Amin about Indonesia's unwavering support for the Palestinian people and their independence.

During their meeting, Retno clarified that Indonesia will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel, said Masduki Baidlowi, vice presidential spokesperson, in a written statement on Wednesday.

Earlier reports about any possibility that Indonesia would establish diplomatic relations were incorrect, Baidlowi quoted Retno as saying.

"The Foreign Minister has made it clear to the Vice President that Indonesia will be steadfast on that stance," Baidlowi said.

In response, Amin expressed his full support for Indonesia's efforts for Palestine, spearheaded by Retno, including pursuing a two-state solution to address the Israel-Palestine conflict.

"The Vice President fully supports our consistent stance that the two-state solution is final and should not change. It will remain our principle, and the Vice President also instructs it to be pursued," Baidlowi affirmed.

Retno also informed Amin about the recent escalation of the Iran-Israel conflict and Indonesia's strategies to defuse the conflict.

"The Foreign Minister reported that Indonesia's lobbying efforts with several countries, including Iran, are focused on preventing a full-scale war and retaliation from Israel," the spokesperson said.

The Foreign Ministry earlier affirmed that Indonesia has no plan to establish diplomatic relations with Israel to be accepted as a member state of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

"I emphasize that until now, we have no plan to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, particularly as Israel has yet to cease its atrocities in Gaza until now," the ministry's spokesperson, Lalu Muhamad Iqbal, said in a statement on April 11.

He reiterated that Indonesia's stance will not change, and the country will persevere in supporting Palestinian independence and the resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict under the framework of the two-state solution.

"Indonesia will always be consistent and will be on the front lines to defend the rights of the Palestinian nation," Iqbal stressed.

Related news: No plan to normalize relations with Israel: Foreign Ministry
Related news: Indonesia's new leader continuing to support Palestine: Amb. Al Shun


Translator: Benardy F, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Anton Santoso
Copyright © ANTARA 2024