Indonesia and Ireland Strengthen Bilateral Ties Through MoU Signing During UN General Assembly
Indonesia and Ireland signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on establishing a Bilateral Consultation Mechanism during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Monday, September 23.
This significant agreement was formalized by Indonesia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi, and Ireland's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin. Both nations committed to strengthening political mechanisms between the two countries, focusing on bilateral cooperation and international issues of mutual concern.
The MoU signing was followed by a bilateral meeting, where both parties discussed various global and bilateral issues, with special attention to the problem of Palestine. Ireland has been a strong advocate for Palestine’s rights and reaffirmed its support for Palestinian statehood during the meeting.
Support for Palestine
Minister Retno Marsudi highlighted that Ireland’s clear stance in supporting Palestine includes encouraging other countries to recognize Palestine and uphold the rights of the Palestinian people.
Ireland’s Foreign Minister commitment, stated by Foreign Minister Micheál Martin, was a key point in the discussions. He emphasized that the people of Palestine deserve the same right to a peaceful life, urging the international community to reject double standards regarding Palestine's cause.
Indonesia expressed its deep appreciation for Ireland’s recognition and support of Palestine. Minister Retno reiterated Indonesia's commitment to encouraging other nations to follow suit in recognizing Palestine and defending the rights of its people.
Ireland officially recognized Palestine’s sovereignty on May 28, 2024, marking a significant step in supporting Palestinian rights. Shortly after, Norway and Spain followed Ireland’s lead, acknowledging Palestine’s statehood with similar commitments.
This wave of recognition continued with Slovenia officially recognizing Palestine on June 4, 2024. The growing number of European countries recognizing Palestine signals strong international momentum for a fair and peaceful resolution to the Palestinian conflict.
Read also: Indonesian, Malaysian Netizens Use Social Media to Support Palestine on Digital World
A Shared Spirit for Palestine
This aligns with the stance of Minister Retno Marsudi, who emphasized that the humanitarian spirit and the rejection of double standards for Palestine must be continuously upheld. Both Retno and Micheál Martin also discussed enhancing economic cooperation, which has shown significant growth in recent years.
Diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Ireland date back to 1984, making this year the 40th anniversary of their partnership. Both nations are leveraging this milestone to further optimize and strengthen ties between their governments and societies.
