Minister Marsudi to Meet Indonesian Peacekeeping Troops in Lebanon

Jakarta, MINA – Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno LP Marsudi is scheduled to depart for Lebanon to meet the Indonesian peacekeeping troops, the Garuda Contingent of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), on Feb 25-26.

“This will be an important visit to again demonstrate Indonesia`s commitment and support for peacekeeping efforts in Lebanon,” Antara News reported, citing spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Arrmanatha Nasir during a press briefing here on Thursday.

The last time an Indonesian minister had visited Lebanon to meet the peacekeeping force was in 2007, Nasir stated.

Minister Marsudi`s visit was also aimed at highlighting the government`s commitment to supporting the UN`s role in promoting international security and peacekeeping.

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Director of International Security and Disarmament of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Grata Endah Werdaningtyas remarked that the visit to Lebanon will focus on two areas, with the first being to meet 850 personnel of the Mechanic Battalion Task Force on duty in Adchit Al Qusayr and then a visit to the Port of Beirut to meet three hundred personnel of the Indo Maritime Task Force.

Foreign Minister Marsudi will meet the Garuda Contingent and hold a dialog with the personnel to observe firsthand the challenges and obstacles faced by the peacekeepers.

In its contribution to the UN peacekeeping mission, Indonesia is committed to deploying four thousand peacekeeping personnel.

Werdaningtyas revealed that Indonesia has, since 2016, deployed 2,702 peacekeepers from the Indonesian Military and Police to nine UN peacekeeping missions.

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Of most of some 1,290 Indonesian peacekeepers, 48 were females and were deployed in UNIFIL, she pointed out.

Campaign in the competition to win UNSC seats

The visit to Lebanon will also be Indonesia`s campaign to promote its efforts in global peacekeeping since the country is eyeing a seat as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2019-2020 period.

Indonesia is competing with Maldives for this seat for the Asia-Pacific Region.

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The election for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council will be held in New York in June 2018.

From Lebanon, Minister Marsudi will depart for Kabul, Afghanistan, to accompany Vice President Jusuf Kalla to attend the Kabul Peace Conference. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)

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