REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Indonesian government is still awaiting the Terms of Reference (TOR) from Saudi Arabia for the establishment of a coalition to fight the ISIS.
Indonesia's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir told a press conference here on Wednesday that the country could not yet decide whether it will join the coalition of 34 Islamic countries in Asia, Middle East and Africa.
"Last Friday, the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia contacted Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi with regard to the establishment of the coalition. However, we are still waiting for the TOR and the modality of setting up such a coalition," stated Arrmanatha.
He explained that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hailed any efforts to deter radicalism and terrorism through both, soft and hard approaches.
But he stressed that the country needed to study the terms of reference, in this case from Saudi Arabia, the pioneer of the coalition, to understand such a grouping's direction and the focus of the cooperation.
Besides, the TOR would make it easy for Indonesia to coordinate with a number of counter-terrorism agencies in the country. "Indonesia already has its National Counter-terrorism Agency (BNPT) and other law enforcing bodies. So there should be clear coordination," he said.
Arrmanatha added that for establishing any international cooperation body, Indonesia would always seek clarity regarding the terms of reference and modality.
"We always emphasize that matter. Saudi Arabia, in its offer yesterday, has not yet explained its direction, aim and focus. If the terms of reference already exist, we can make adjustment aligned with the principles Indonesia has," he noted.
Actually, he said, the idea of formation of a coalition of Islamic countries led by Saudi Arabia to fight ISIS had taken Indonesia by surprise.
Arrmanatha Nasir stated that the Saudi foreign minister had last Friday urged the Indonesian government to join the coalition to deter the radical terrorist group, ISIS.
"We are surprised as what was conveyed last week was an invitation to form a center for coordination to overcome terrorism but what has happened now is the formation of a military alliance," he noted.
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