King Salman Appreciates Indonesias Move to Bring Reconciliation to Saudi & Iran
Foreign Affairs Minister Retno met King Salman, at the Al-Yamamah Palace, Riyadh, on Monday (18/1) yesterday
Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi handed over a letter from President Joko Widodo containing a message of peace to King Salman Abdulaziz Al Saud at the Al-Yamamah Riyadh, on Monday (18/1).
Through the letter, President Jokowi stressed the importance of stability and peace in the region, the importance of good relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and Indonesias readiness to restore relations between the two countries.
King Salman welcomed the attention from Indonesia and asserted Saudi Arabias readiness to bring peace to the Middle East, including Iran, based on the principles of mutual respect and not by interfering with other countriess internal affairs.
Saudi Arabia appreciated Indonesias move as the first country who conveys its readiness to contribute to bring peace to the Middle East, and to the improvement of Saudi and Irans relations, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno said as reported in www.kemlu.go.id.
A similar letter has also been handed over by Minister Retno to the President of Iran, Hassan Rouhani, in Teheran, on Wednesday (13/1).
As a good friend of Saudi Arabia and Iran, President Jokowi hopes the tension and escalation between Saudi Arabia and Iran could calm down.
The President also stressed the importance to maintain communication. In this matter, Indonesia also plans to initiate track 2 activities and cooperate with the ulema.
In order to bring the peace and stability in the Middle East, Minister Retno Marsudi has talked and conducted meetings with several countries in the region, for example with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates on Thursday (14/1) and with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Oman on Tuesday (19/1).
A number of meetings shall be carried on in the Excellent Meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers of Islamic Cooperation Organizations (OKI) Countries which will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Friday (21/1).
Indonesias step which serves as prove of Indonesias role and active contribution in international level aims to maintain global peace and stability.
The message of peace and attempt from Indonesia is carried out according to the mandate in the Preamble of the Constitution of Indonesia namely to participate toward the establishment of a world order based upon independence and eternal peace, Minister Retno firmly said.
Before meeting with King Salman, Minister Retno met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia Saydi Adel Bin Ahmed Al Jubeir to discuss the importance to maintain stability and peace.
Both ministers also discussed the follow-up of cooperation in 5 big projects in Indonesia, namely the plans to build new town in Mentawai, West Sumatra, Special Economic Zones in Tanjung Lesung, Mandalika, oil refinery in Tuban and Bontang, and the construction of 25,000 housing unit.
Besides regional peace issue and cooperation in the economy, the meeting with Minister Al Jubeir also discussed the cooperation in extremism and terrorism management, Retno said.
Minister Retno Marsudi also met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran after the handover of the Presidents letter to President Rouhani. The meeting stressed on the importance of economic cooperation between Indonesia and Iran. Through sanction removal to Iran, economic cooperation between Indonesia and Iran is estimated to increase. (Dit Infomed Kemlu/ES) (RAS/EP/YM/Naster)
