"Indonesia has got involved in a number of bilateral and international organizations. The involvement serves as a strategic step for Indonesia to support the upholding of human rights and democracy in the world," Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said here on Friday.
In the Annual Press Statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of 2013, he said Indonesia`s support for the upholding of human rights includes its struggle for the state rights of Palestinians and Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.
"For example, so far, we have been trying to pioneer the establishment of a honorable embassy in Palestine in order to facilitate their struggle, but the problem is that Israel has always obstructed all attempts by other countries, including Indonesia to realize their support," the minister said.
Apart from that, Indonesia will continue to send its peacekeeping forces upon the request of the UN as it has done in Lebanon.
He said Indonesia will also continue to strengthen its influence in Southeast Asia.
"Indonesia, along with other ASEAN member countries will always try to make democracy and human rights the priorities of the ASEAN community," he said.
In the near future, an Indonesia delegation will visit Myanmar`s western Rakhine state at the invitation of the Myanmarese government. During the visit, Indonesia will try to discuss how to handle Rohingya Muslims in a better way, he said.
"The developments in Myanmar are a concrete example. Of course, the upholding of democratization and human rights is a challenge. In the event of a challenge, ASEAN as an extended family will work together to encourage democracy," said Marty.
Touching on Indonesia`s role in encouraging democracy in other parts of the world including the Middle East, he said Indonesia is ready to help such countries as Syria, Egypt, and Libya which are now in the process of transition to government of the people for the people
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Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
