President Jokowi: Indonesia Ready To Facilitate Reconciliation Of All Existing Factions In Palestine

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (right) spoke with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh/ANTARA

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated that Indonesia is ready to facilitate the reconciliation process for factions in the struggle for the liberation of Palestine. Jokowi emphasized that unity is the most important aspect in the efforts of the Indonesian nation to seize independence. "Therefore, the reconciliation process needs to be encouraged and Indonesia is ready to facilitate the reconciliation of factions in Palestine," Jokowi said at a press conference with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh after a meeting at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, quoted from Antara, Monday, October 24. Jokowi also reiterated Indonesia's support so that Palestine is accepted as a full member of the United Nations (UN). This attitude, said Jokowi, cannot be separated from the close relationship between Indonesia and Palestine. Moreover, Palestine was also one of the first countries to recognize Indonesia's independence. "The world is currently facing extraordinary challenges, and the long-standing challenge is that the resolution of the Palestinian problem has not been successfully resolved peacefully and fairly," said Jokowi. Jokowi also called for the push for the international community to continue to channel support for the Palestinian struggle. Despite being one of the participants of the 1955 Asia-African Conference (KAA), Palestine is currently not completely independent due to Israeli occupation. Bilaterally, Palestine continues to seek to garner recognition from various countries and until September 14, 2015, 163 countries from 193 UN members have recognized Palestine as a country. Indonesia has consistently voiced the rights of the Palestinian people, including encouraging the establishment of a Palestinian state under the principles of a two-state solution, including in the holding of the 60th Commemoration of the KAA Year in April 2015. PM Shtayyeh arrived at the Bogor Palace with a limited delegation at around 10.30 WIB and was greeted by President Jokowi and a delegation consisting of Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan, Head of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) Penny K. Lukito, and Director General of Asia Pacific and Africa of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Abdul Qadir Jaelani. After the introduction of the delegation, President Jokowi invited PM Shtayyeh to take a photo together and sign a state guest book in the Lotus Room before planting with the Meranti Bunga tree in the side yard of the Bogor Palace, followed by a bilateral meeting involving delegations from the two countries.