Receiving an International Award, President Jokowi Was Absent at the UN General Assembly

Illustration of the UN General Assembly. (Wikimedia Commons/Basil D Soufi)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will be awarded an international award titled the 'Global Citizen Award' which will be given on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, United States of America, but the reception will be represented by Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi.

This was stated by the Director General of Multilateral Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tri Tharyat. In addition to representing the acceptance of the award, Foreign Minister Retno will also make a speech at the upcoming UN General Assembly.

"We have received confirmation that the President is leaving to attend this year's General Assembly," Tri Tharyat said in a media briefing in Jakarta, Monday, September 12.

"The Foreign Minister will accept to represent the President," he continued.

The awards given by the Atlantic Council, among others, pay attention to the role of the Indonesian G20 Presidency, as well as the presence of President Jokowi to Russia and Ukraine, to help ease the crisis.

It was further explained, in contrast to the previous year, where President Jokowi gave a speech delivering a speech in the form of a video recording. This year, along with the presence of 100 percent in person, according to the order of speakers, Foreign Minister Retno will speak on behalf of Indonesia.

To note, the 77th General Assembly of the United Nations is scheduled to open on September 13, with a High Level Week session on September 20-26.