"Burden-sharing and shared responsibility do not necessarily mean an evenly distributed responsibility. However, all parties must be able to contribute," Kalla was quoted in a statement sent by the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.

In the summit, attended by world leaders of the UN's 193 member states, Kalla emphasized the importance for the international community to work together more closely to address the various human tragedies experienced by migrants, noting that no country can do it alone. 

Although Indonesia is not a party to the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, Kalla underlined the country's commitment on providing humanitarian assistance for those who have arrived on its shores. Indonesia is traditionally viewed as a transit country for those on their way to final destinations such as Australia.

Kalla stressed the importance of a comprehensive approach to address the issue of irregular migration, saying that there is a need to find ways of prevention, as well as addressing the root cause. In his remarks, the Vice President also took the opportunity to convey Indonesia's initiative in handling irregular migration through the leadership role taken in the Bali Process, a regional discussion forum. (dmr)

Popular

Malaysia says China ready to sign SEA nuclear weapons-free treaty

Solving the development crisis with quality finance

Java airports grounded by low demand, poor planning