16-7-2023 (JAKARTA) Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi held a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Jakarta on Saturday to address important global issues, including Islamophobia and the reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
During a joint press statement, Minister Marsudi emphasized the shared principled stance of both countries. “We stand together in advocating for the freedom of Palestine, promoting peace in Afghanistan, and upholding the rights of Afghan women,” she stated.
Marsudi highlighted the commitment of Indonesia and Turkey to collaborate on matters of mutual interest. As two influential emerging nations within their respective regions, both countries are dedicated members of the G20, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the MIKTA (a cross-regional grouping that includes Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey, and Australia).
This visit marked Minister Fidan’s first official visit to Indonesia since assuming office in June. The meeting addressed pressing global challenges, with a particular focus on combatting Islamophobia and addressing incidents of Quran desecration.
Recent acts of Quran burning, which have occurred repeatedly in Sweden, including a highly condemnable incident in a Stockholm mosque during Eid al-Adha last June, have shocked the world. These actions have drawn widespread condemnation from various countries and international organizations, such as Turkey, Indonesia, the European Union, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Minister Fidan highlighted that the discussions encompassed regional issues, ranging from Afghanistan and the Middle East to Palestine, the Rohingya crisis, and the reform of the United Nations Security Council. The Indonesian government has been actively advocating for the reform of the UNSC, underscoring the need for increased representation from Asian and African countries.
Russia, as one of the five permanent members of the UNSC alongside the United States, China, France, and the United Kingdom, has also emphasized the necessity of reform. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently expressed Moscow’s intention to pursue expanded UNSC membership to ensure greater representation for Asian, African, and Latin American nations, aiming to address what he referred to as “Western dominance.”
