Indonesian Foreign Minister Encourages Non-Aligned Movement Countries To Use Their Influence To Help Palestine

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi while attending the GNB meeting on Palestine at the United Nations Headquarters. (Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia)

JAKARTA - Non-Aligned Movement Countries must be at the forefront of recognizing the Palestinian State, using its influence to encourage recognition and assistance for Palestine, said Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.

Foreign Minister Retno said this at the GNB Committee's Ministerial Meeting for Palestine, at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, United States on Thursday.

"The countries of the Non-Aligned Movement (GNB) must use their influence to help Palestine," said Foreign Minister Retno in a statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Friday, September 27.

According to the Indonesian Foreign Minister, GNB countries must take advantage of their influence, to advance two main things, first, increasing the number of countries that recognize Palestine.

Second, encouraging the effective implementation of the UN General Assembly's Resolution ES-10/24, which demands Israel to end its illegal presence in the Palestinian Territories.

"Recognition (of Palestine) is very important. Recognition ignites hope for the Palestinian people; it is a crucial step towards creating a Two-State Solution, as well as creating political pressure for Israel to stop its atrocities," said Foreign Minister Retno.

Furthermore, in the view of Foreign Minister Retno, NAM countries must be at the forefront of giving recognition to Palestine.

It is known that the Palestinian Committee of NAM is one of the NAM Working Groups consisting of Indonesia, Algeria, Iran, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malaysia, Cuba, India, Venezuela, Egypt and Senegal.

NAM consists of 121 countries that formally do not relate to one particular large power block. Of the NAM member countries, only Palestine has not yet achieved independence.