Joining Trump's Peace Board Claimed to Be Indonesia's Commitment to Palestine

President Prabowo Subianto signed the Board of Peace charter in the presence of US President Donald Trump/PHOTO via Instagram @prabowo

JAKARTA - Foreign Minister (Menlu) Sugiono conveyed the commitment of the Indonesian Government in the Palestinian peace effort through participation in the Board of Peace (BoP) or Peace Council.

Foreign Minister Sugiono, in his statement in Bad Ragaz, Switzerland, Friday, January 23, said the BoP is an international body formed to oversee the stabilization and rehabilitation of post-conflict Gaza.

"The signing of the Charter from the Board of Peace which is part of the process that we have been doing in order to resolve conflicts, achieve peace and resolve conflicts and post-conflict rehabilitation in Palestine, Gaza in particular," said Sugiono as reported by ANTARA.

In his activities accompanying President Prabowo Subianto to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, the Minister of Foreign Affairs explained that one of the President's main agendas was the signing of the BoP Charter, which was a continuation of the long process of dialogue and meetings of a number of countries, especially Islamic countries and countries with Muslim majority populations related to the situation in Palestine.

According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the agreement to establish the BoP was born from a common determination to involve the international community more concretely to achieve a permanent peace in Gaza.

The meetings then continued until the meeting in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, which became the momentum for the signing of the Board of Peace charter.

"Actually, the Board of Peace is an international body, now officially an international body tasked with monitoring the administration, stabilization, and rehabilitation efforts in Gaza in particular and in Palestine," he said.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono continued, Indonesia considers it important to join because from the beginning it has consistently supported international peace and stability, especially for Palestine.

Although the process of forming this body took place relatively quickly, said Sugiono, President Prabowo Subianto decided that Indonesia would be part of the BoP after considering various strategic aspects.

"We have been a country that cares about peace, international stability and especially the situation in Palestine from the beginning. Because this Board of Peace is part of the effort to achieve peace, we must be in it," said the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The decision was also taken through intensive consultations with countries in the Group of New York.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs revealed that a number of countries agreed to join, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, and Indonesia.

"Two days before the signing, everyone agreed to join the Board of Peace," he said.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs believes that the existence of the BoP is a concrete step that has long been awaited in guiding the Palestinian peace process.

He hopes that the presence of these countries can guide every step taken to remain oriented towards Palestinian independence and the realization of a two-state solution.

"Then ensure that the efforts made by the Board of Peace remain oriented towards Palestinian independence and to achieve a two-state solution," he said.

Closing his statement, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said the BoP was not intended to replace the role of the United Nations (UN).

"This body is not intended to replace the UN. This is an international body born out of concern to create peace and stability, especially in Gaza. Therefore, these efforts we must join, Indonesia has decided to join," he said.