REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said she plans to visit the Al Aqsa Mosque, but only after tensions have declined.
"What is important now is to find a way to de-escalate the situation because Indonesia does not want to see more victims fall. Secondly, Indonesia also does not want to see restrictions on religious activities. The visit is a mere option that will be done only after tension declines," she said, at the office of the coordinating minister of maritime affairs here, on Monday.
She admitted that it was impossible for her to make the visit now because it would certainly be difficult to enter the area now.
"But the most important thing is de-escalation," she added.
Retno noted that the Indonesian government would continue to conduct communication and contribute to the settlement on the current development in the Muslims' holy place.
Before the situation worsened, she said she had communicated with several foreign ministers and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, as well as intensified diplomacy in a number of crucial areas.
The Indonesian representatives have been urged to intensify diplomacy and initiate the issuance of a communique on the situation at the Al-Quds complex.
"For example, in New York, they have intensified diplomacy by asking UN Security Council member countries to register Indonesia's concern and position and calling on UN Security Council to immediately hold a meeting over the incident," she explained.
She revealed that the same request has also been made to the OIC, with which Indonesia has twice conducted written communication to affirm its position and condemnation and propose a special OIC meeting, to discuss the issue.
"We have requested OIC to hold a special meeting to discuss the Palestinian issue because it is in the heart of the Indonesian foreign policy. Palestine has always been in our foreign policy. We have an obligation to continue to push, so that the escalation in the Al-Quds complex can be reduced," she remarked.
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