Foreign Minister Retno: There Is One Debt We Have Not Paid, Palestinian Independence

JAKARTA - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi reminded that there is one debt that has not been paid, namely the independence of Palestine, when opening a discussion ahead of the 70th anniversary of the Asian Africa Conference next year, in Jakarta on Thursday.

"Cooperation between Asia and Africa is needed to bridge differences and build a peaceful future," said Foreign Minister Retno, highlighting the current world conditions that have been hit by various conflicts, in a statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thursday, June 6.

The discussion entitled "Road to Platinum Jubilee" was held by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, taking the theme "Asia Afrika We Want: Empowering South Global Armed with Spirit Bandung."

It said the nation's founders had instilled a "feet" of cooperation between Asian and African countries in Spirit Bandung. Now the "beh" has grown into "trees". To fertilize the "trees", there are three things needed.

First, ensuring a "root" of global justice and humanity. Justice and humanity are currently lost to Palestinians who are victims of Israeli atrocities.

"There is one debt that we have not paid, namely the independence of Palestine. Indonesia will continue to make various efforts to help the Palestinian people, including through the International Court, OKI, and the United Nations, as well as increase humanitarian aid through UNRWA," said Foreign Minister Retno.

Quoted from WAFA, Gaza's health authorities on Wednesday announced that the death toll of Palestinians as a result of Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7, 2023 has reached 36,550 people and injured victims reached 82,959 people. The majority of victims were women and children.

Second, increasing "batang" inclusiveness. Global challenges cannot be overcome if big countries only care about personal interests and the world is still divided between the North and South. Spirit Bandung can provide direction for fairer cooperation and multilateral strengthening.

"Next year's Platinum jubilee should be a reminder, inclusiveness must be the DNA of our cooperation," said the Foreign Minister.

Third, growing "branch" solidarity in maintaining the right to development. Global South must be able to encourage solidarity in advancing the right to development in order to achieve a leap of prosperity, including through downstreaming.

"We must maintain the 'tree' of Asia-Africa cooperation as the foundation for our future," concluded Foreign Minister Retno.