"So to demonstrate our recognition of the Palestinian state, we need to open a consulate in Ramallah," House Speaker Marzuki Alie said.
Bandung, W java (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government will open a consulate in Ramallah, Palestine, to strengthen its support of the Palestinian independence, according to House Speaker Marzuki Alie.

"So to demonstrate our recognition of the Palestinian state, we need to open a consulate in Ramallah," Alie said after the opening of the International Conference on the Freedom of Al-Quds and Palestine here on Wednesday.

The launch of Indonesia`s consulate is aimed to relay speedy communication between Palestine and Jakarta, without involving the Indonesian embassy in Jordan as has happened so far, he said.

However, according to the chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR), Indonesia is cautious in its launch of the planned consulate in order to avoid the recognition of Israel`s presence in the area.

The consulate`s inauguration has not been realized because Indonesia does not want to recognize Israel which continues to occupy the area, in the process of establishing the consulate, he stated.

The International Conference for the Freedom of Al-Quds and Palestine is scheduled here between 4th and 5th July, 2012.

The speakers of the conference come from several countries and participants include ulemas, foreign ambassadors from Islamic countries and human rights activists.

The conference is aimed at supporting Palestine in its efforts to gain independence. Among the 106 member countries that attended the first Asia-Africa Conference held at Bandung in 1955, Palestine continues to be the only one that has not achieved its independence yet.

The recommendations of the conference will be sent to the United Nations in October at the UN General Assembly.

West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan said that the two-day conference on Palestine starts here on Wednesday and is expected to serve as a good momentum for the struggle to achieve the country`s complete independence.

The conference on Palestine Liberation or Conference for the Freedom of Al Quds and Palestine is inspired by the Asian African Conference staged in the West Java capital in 1955, Ahmad said.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012