REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) hopes Indonesia would use the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit as a momentum to lead members in efforts to bring peace to the civil wars in the Middle East.

"The OIC extraordinary summit should seek solutions not only to the Palestinian issue but also to the civil wars in the Middle East," MPR Chairman Zulkifli Hasan said here on Sunday.

Zulkifli said that Indonesia should encourage waring parties in the Middle East to cease fire and to hold dialogs or negotiations.

In its capacity as the OIC summit host and as the largest Muslim country, Indonesia should take the lead because it has so far played roles in the Islamic world.

Zulkifli who is also the general chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN), said the OIC in the global political affairs was not so influential.

If Indonesia, in its capacity as the world largest Muslim populated country, takes the lead, it would be accepted by all sides, both by Western and Eastern countries or by the waring parties.

"All sides acknowledge the Indonesian roles and existence," the MPR chairman said.

He said that if Indonesia took the initiative, it would create different influence in the international world.

Therefore, Zulkifli stressed the importance for the Indonesian government to play a significant role in the Middle East peace efforts.

In the meantime, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and her Mauritanian counterpart Isselkou Ould Ahmed Izid Bih, in a bilateral talk on Sunday hoped that the current extraordinary summit of the OIC will solve the Palestinian issue.

The two foreign ministers met on the sidelines of the Fifth OIC Extraordinary Summit at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) here on Sunday.

The Indonesian foreign minister said that the OIC extraordinary summit is being held in Indonesia as part of Indonesia's and OIC's full support and solidarity to Palestine.

Retno said the Indonesian government also hoped that the extraordinary summit of the OIC would help foster the unity of the OIC member countries.

On the occasion, Minister Retno also stated that Indonesia would always support new world peace initiatives.

Regarding bilateral relations, the Indonesian government hoped that the Indonesia-Mauritania bilateral ties would continue to be stepped up. The two countries are expected to further explore economic potential that could be exploited together.

The Indonesian foreign minister also hoped that Mauritania would get to know Indonesia's flagship commodities and products, particularly crude palm oil (CPO), textile, consumer products and electric devices.

Retno also told her Mauritanian counterpart that Indonesia was ready to provide technical assistance on capacity building and people relations of both nations.

The two ministers met for the last time on September 25, 2013 on the sidelines of the 68th General Assembly of the United Nations.

Indonesia and Mauritania officially established diplomatic relations on September 27, 2011.

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