Indonesian Foreign Minister Attends OIC Meeting on Rakhine Issue

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.

Jakarta, 20 Rabiul Akhir 1438/19 Januari 2017 (MINA) – Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi is slated to attend an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur to discuss humanitarian issues in Rakhine, Myanmar.

“The foreign minister will attend the OIC emergency meeting in Kuala Lumpur on January 19. This meeting aims to discuss possible measures by the OIC in response to the situation in Rakhine,” Antara quoted Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir as saying Wednesday.

After attending the OIC emergency meeting, the foreign minister will make a working visit to Myanmar between January 20 to 22, 2017, he added.

The Indonesian governments main message at the meeting was to encourage OIC member countries to take constructive steps to support Myanmar in order to resolve the problems in Rakhine, the Foreign Ministrys Expert Staff for Institutional Affairs, Salman Al Farisi, said.

“We will deliver a range of measures that Indonesia will present to the government of Myanmar. We expect this to be an incentive for the other OIC countries to take similar steps, particularly in its important role of promoting inclusive development in the country,” Al Farisi said.

The Indonesian government will encourage the OIC to cooperate with ASEAN in order to help and support Myanmar, he added.

Foreign Minister Marsudi had promised additional aid for Myanmar to help address the humanitarian problems in Rakhine state, Al Farisi further mentioned.

“On December 29, 2016 President Joko Widodo oversaw the delivery of 10 containers full of humanitarian aid from Indonesia that consisted of food, gloves and other items. On January 21, the aid will be formally handed over by the foreign minister and will officially be received by Myanmars Social Affairs Minister and Rakhines Chief Minister,” Al Farisi said.

The OIC emergency meeting in Kuala Lumpur is expected to issue two documents. The first document is a joint communique that is expected to contain the various measures that can be taken to help Myanmar. The second is a resolution from OIC members that will convey the position of the organization with regards to the problems in Rakhine. (T/RS05/RS01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)