JAKARTA - Indonesia supports any constructive diplomatic efforts and efforts to make it a permanent settlement with a focus on protecting civilians.
This was conveyed by the Spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yvonne Mewengkang, in response to the announcement of a ceasefire between the United States and Iran in the Middle East conflict.
Yvonne said the Government of the Republic of Indonesia welcomes the ceasefire agreement that has been announced for two weeks between the United States and Iran in the latest conflict in the Middle East.
"This development reflects the efforts of the parties concerned to continue to open diplomatic space to encourage de-escalation," Yvonne said in a press statement at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jakarta, Wednesday (8/4).
Previously, both Tehran and Washington said they had agreed to a two-week ceasefire, an hour before President Donald Trump's deadline to destroy Iran was due to end.
It came as a breath of fresh air following tensions in the Middle East that broke out following a US and Israeli attack on Iran on February 28 that killed more than 1,340 people, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a number of senior Iranian officials.
Iran responded by launching attacks on Israel and US-related facilities in a number of countries in the Middle East, severely restricting traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass every day.
Furthermore, Yvonne said, "Indonesia sees this momentum as a positive start to encourage this opportunity or momentum to be optimally utilized to advance a sustainable peaceful settlement."
The diplomat, who served at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations in New York from 2013 to 2016, reiterated "the importance for all parties concerned to refrain from maximum restraint, respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity and always prioritize dialogue and diplomacy in resolving conflicts."
Indonesia, continued Yvonne, has repeatedly emphasized that dialogue and diplomacy are the only way to resolve conflicts.
On the same occasion, Yvonne said, "Indonesia continues to emphasize the importance of respect for freedom of navigation as a right guaranteed by international law, including the UNCLOS (1982) Convention".
"The Indonesian government will continue to support any constructive diplomatic efforts, including those that can be made to develop into a more permanent settlement effort with the protection of civilians as the main focus," said Yvonne.
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