Former Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab: RI Must Enter BoP to Be Able to "Reprimand from Within", Not Be a Spectator

JAKARTA - Former Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab said Prabowo Subianto called former foreign ministers and foreign ministers to ask for input, including about Indonesia's position on the Board of Peace (BoP).

Alwi admitted that he had prepared a view, but withheld the details.

"I have input but I can't say it now," said Alwi at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta, Wednesday, February 4.

He said that about 20 people were invited. In general, according to Alwi, Indonesia's participation has "advantages", but there are also "reservations" or notes that need to be taken into account.

"So what should be considered? We have entered, but when we say we are out, it is impossible," he said.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs under President Gus Dur assessed that Indonesia still needed to be in the BoP in order to influence the direction of discussion, not just commenting from the outside. When asked whether it was important for Indonesia to join the BoP, Alwi answered firmly: it is important.

When a journalist mentioned the absence of Palestine in the BoP's involvement, Alwi said that was a problem that had to be corrected from within.

"If we don't participate, we can't talk. But if we are inside, we can say 'don't do that, this is what we want to fight for Palestine, don't just look at Israel'," he said.