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RI calls for balance at G20 meeting
For a better world: Representatives from the G20 and several other countries and organizations pose for a family photo during the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting at the Palacio San Martin in Buenos Aires on Monday
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or a better world: Representatives from the G20 and several other countries and organizations pose for a family photo during the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting at the Palacio San Martin in Buenos Aires on Monday. With consensus on sensitive issues such as Iran, Syria or the Palestinians appearing elusive, G20 foreign ministers are to focus on the fight against terrorism and climate change during their meeting in Argentina. (AFP/Eitan Abramovich)
Indonesia is saying it is important for the G20 to find a balance between the interests of developed and developing countries.
“Therefore, the G20 should lead by example and always try to be a solution for global problems,” Foreign Minister, Retno LP Marsudi said at the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Buenos Aires on Monday, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Since 2008, the global community has looked to the G20 as a reference to face a number of global challenges.”
She emphasized that the G20 needed to increase its efforts to resolve global strategic issues, such as reforming the international financial system, strengthening an open multilateral trade system and committing to financing the mitigation of climate change.
Retno added it was also the duty of G20 countries to ensure progress did not result in citizens being marginalized. She suggested the G20 set up a cooperation framework to build a technology-based economy that encourages fairness.
The ministry’s director general for multilateral cooperation, Febrian A. Ruddyard, noted that the foreign ministers’ meeting was a relatively new format in G20, which used to only deal with global finance.
He said member countries started to share their experiences and views on other international issues through their foreign ministers in 2012 in Mexico. The foreign ministers met again in Germany in 2017 and in Argentina in 2018.
“Indonesia expressed the importance of a balance so that South and developing countries can get the benefit of economic and development progress,” Febrian told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday, adding that Indonesia supported the inclusion of the Vision of the South into the G20 agenda.
He added that there had to be safeguards to prevent inequality and marginalization of developing countries in the global economy.
Such safeguards could be manifested through a commitment from G20 countries to understand the challenges faced by developing countries, as well as through assistance from developed countries to increase the economic capacities of developing countries.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Retno held a number of bilateral meetings with her counterparts, including Australian Julie Bishop, Japanese Taro Kono, Saudi Adel bin Ahmed Al Jubeir and Brit Boris Johnson.
In almost all of those meetings, Retno mentioned Indonesia’s support for the independence of Palestine and Indonesia’s campaign for a non-permanent member seat on the United Nations Security Council.
“The bilateral meetings with other G20 countries were, among other reasons, to garner support for Palestine, especially not to follow the United States’ move by relocating their embassies to Jerusalem,” Febrian said.
Indonesia and Japan had agreed to increase support for Palestine through the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD). Taro also said he would be visiting Indonesia by the end of June.
The Palestine issue was also brought up when Retno met with Al Jubeir, when they agreed the Organization of Islamic Cooperation held an important role.
Retno also mentioned Palestine in her meeting with Johnson, in addition to the current developments in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
In that meeting, Johnson expressed his desire to visit Indonesia soon.
Retno also made similar plea against relocating embassies to Jerusalem during the 12th meeting of the MIKTA (Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey and Australia) foreign ministers on Monday. Indonesia is the MIKTA coordinator for 2018.
“We also asked the MIKTA countries to keep supporting Palestine’s independence, which received positive responses from all countries,” Febrian said
He added that the meeting also discussed the latest regional issues, including the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in the Middle East, especially in Palestine and Syria, the conflict in Rakhine, the situation and election results in Venezuela and the global economic situation and the multilateral trading system.
