It is a commitment to world peace keeping and as one of the 20 UN biggest peace keeping force sending countries.
"In peace keeping operations Indonesia has been actively contributing to the development of a strategic concept on the deployment of world peace keeping missions. In 2011, Indonesia will try to become a contact for peacekeeping centers in the area," Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said his annual statement to the press at his office here on Friday.
He said in 2010, Indonesia has sent some 1,785 personnel to seven US missions under its commitment to world peace maintenance. Thus Indonesia was one of the 20 countries which had sent the biggest peace keeping forces.
"Indonesian diplomacy will continue showing Indonesia`s preparedness to increase its contribution to the UN peace keeping missions to become one of the 10 biggest contributors of UN peace keeping forces," he said.
The foreign minister said the increase in the contribution of Indonesia`s forces not only in terms of number, but also in units. Indonesia has sent its warship KRI Kaisiepo in August 2010 to join the Maritime Task Force (MTF) of UNIFIL, the second after KRI Diponegoro joining the MTF in April-September 2009.
Indonesia, he added, is also constantly increasing civilian role known as White Helmet to support various post-armed conflict development programs and regional rehabilitation, but always prioritizing the national ownership of the counties in question.
Besides increasing its contribution to peace keeping forces, Indonesia in its efforts to build international peace and security, the foreign minister said, is also playing a central role in nuclear disarmament issues to build a world free of nuclear arms.
"The Indonesian decision to start ratifying the Total Nuclear Arms Test Ban Treaty had received warm and positive welcome from the international community. In 2011 Indonesia God willing could complete the ratification process which will encourage may other sides to implement the CTBT immediately," he said.
The foreign minister`s annual press statement was attended by Dr. Alwi Shibab (1999-2001 foreign minister), Dr. N. Hassan Wirajuda (2001-2009), Joop Ave (tourism of tourism, past and telecommunications for 1993-1998), Agus Gumiwang (deputy chairman of House`s Commission I) and Sidharto Danusubroto (deputy chairman of the House`s BKSAP) and at least 340 invitees from the media, diplomatic
representatives, academicians, government institutions and foreign ministry officials.(*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
