Mission Accomplished, Minister Retno Says
Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi is responding to the journalists questions, at the State Palaces yard (15/3) (Picture: Public Relations Office/Jay)
Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi gave an explanation about the inauguration of Honorary Consulate of Indonesia in Ramallah, Palestine, that must take place in Amman, Jordan.
Mission accomplished, its done. Its done, regardless any efforts of Israel not to allow me to enter Ramallah, the inaugration of our Honorary Consulate could still be conducted in our Embassy in Amman, the Minister said to the journalists, at the State Palaces yard, Jakarta, on Tuesday (15/3) afternoon.
The Minister admitted that she already predicted Israels prohibition when she entered Ramallah territory and she thought that she made the right decision. The mission gave by the President, Minister Retno added, was to inaugurate the Honorary Consul.
And the inauguration was still conducted with the attendance of Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister who travelled via land routes from Ramallah to Amman. The point is the mission accomplished, the Minister stated.
Responding to the question whether there was a preliminary negotiation with Israeli officials so that she can conduct the inauguration, the Minister firmly said that she did not needto do that.
I dont need to have talks with Israel because the location is in Ramallah. It means, its an Indonesia-Palestine affair, she said.
The Minister added that she never received any information and Indonesian Government asked permission to the Government of Jordan.
The most important thing is the mission accomplished. All efforts to prevent me to reach Ramallah were not successful because the inauguration was still conducted with the attendance of Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs. It is such a good political achievement, Retno said.
She also explained that the presence of this Consulate is important because one of its tasks is to study Indonesias economic potential in Palestine. In economic sector, Indonesia-Palestine trade shows an increasing trend, for example, in 2014-2015, the trend increased by 300%.
Yesterday, I talked to Palestinian importers. For Westbank territory, for example, Indonesia exports 15 containers of instant noodles, the Minister stated.
Protection for Indonesian Citizens
The Minister also explained that this Honorary Consulate is present to give protection to Indonesian citizens who come to Palestine territory. She mentioned that in one year, there are 50,000 Indonesians who come to Palestine.
With this Consulate, Indonesian citizens will feel more comfortable. Should anything happens, it has the address and phone number of the person who can be reached anytime, she said.
As reported previously, on Sunday (13/3), in Amman, Jordan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi inaugurated the first Honorary Consul of Indonesia to Palestine, Maha Abu Shusheh, posted in Ramallah.
The ceremony was conducted at Indonesian Embassy in Amman attended by Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Riyad al-Maliki, Ambassadors of ASEAN and OIC member countries in Amman, Speaker of Commission I of Indonesian House of Representatives Mahfudz Siddiq, Indonesian Ambassador to Jordan Teguh Wardoyo, and the figures as well as government officials of Palestine and Jordan.
The inauguration had to be conducted in Indonesian Embassy in Amman because ahead of the departure of Minister Retno and the delegation to Ramallah, Palestine, Israel refused to issue an overflight permit for a Jordanian air force helicopter transporting the Minister to Ramallah.
However, this problem did not discourage Indonesias intention to inaugurate Honorary Consulate of Indonesia in Ramallah. With a very fast setting, the inauguration could be held smoothly in Ramallah. (FID/JAY/ES)(MMB/YM/Naster)
