“Cooperation must be built with the spirit of equality and mutual respect for historical records. We must also develop a common understanding to look into the future,” Zon stated, per a written statement received here on Thursday.
During his meeting with the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Indonesia, Marc Gerritsen, on the sidelines of the 2025 Culture, Heritage, Art, Narrative, Diplomacy, and Innovation (CHANDI) Forum, Zon said that cultural diplomacy will strengthen bilateral relations.
The minister disclosed that the Indonesian repatriation team has completed their study and presented, albeit informally, to the Cultural Cooperation Committee (CCC) the list of the first 72 cultural artefacts in the Netherlands to be repatriated to Indonesia.
“We are waiting for the official response from the CCC. We expect that an agreement will be reached so that we can proceed with a formal request,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Gerritsen reaffirmed his side’s commitment to repatriate more artefacts to Indonesia, an action he said “bridges the diplomacy between Indonesia and the Netherlands”.
He further revealed that the Dutch foreign minister will visit Indonesia next month to attend talks on repatriation and participate in an agenda at the Indonesian National Museum.
“President Prabowo Subianto may also allocate his time to symbolically receive (the artefacts), together with the Indonesian Culture Ministry, in the Netherlands,” he suggested.
However, Gerritsen admitted that structural changes in the Dutch Cultural Ministry may delay his country’s response to the list of repatriated artefacts as requested by Indonesia.
Apart from repatriation issues, Minister Zon and Ambassador Gerritsen also discussed the proposed joint film production and fashion school, cultural activities, and follow-up visits of officials from the two countries.
The two officials also expressed their regret over the attacks and vandalism of museums and cultural heritage sites during the protests and riots that occurred in multiple cities across Indonesia last week.
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Translator: Ni Putu Putri M, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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