Thailand Asks Indonesia to Explain Its Policies to OIC

Denpasar, Indonesia (News Today) - Thailand has asked Indonesia to help explain its policies on Muslim minority in that country to the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). Its foreign minister, Kasit Piromya, said it was one of the two issued being emphasized at the two countries’ seventh foreign ministerial meeting here on Thursday.

Indonesian foreign minister Marty Natalegawa led the country’s delegation to the meeting to discuss various issues aimed in principle at increasing and widening the spectrum of the two countries’ cooperation.

The two ministers in the meeting had also paid attention to the two countries’ cooperation in the development efforts in a third country of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as in countries around the region. They also sought to promote cooperation between the two countries’ private sectors.

"We thank the government and people of Indonesia for having demonstrated real deep understanding and patience with regard to our domestic political problems recently. Finally the problem has passed. We appreciate Indonesia’s stance and understanding of not showing worries overly," Piromya said.

Indonesia has given support and encouragement to Thailand so that the political turbulance in that country could be overcome, he said. Regarding Thailand’s wish for Indonesia in connection with the situation in South Thailand particularly in the Pattani province where Muslims comprise the majority of the population in the region Piromya said "Indonesia is a central country that could explain about it. We appreciate Indonesia’ position with regard to it," he said.

He said Indonesia could be seen from various perspectives from being the largest Muslim country in the world, an important member of the OIC, one of the founders of ASEAN and to being a member of Group of 20 developed and developing countries (G20) and others.

In response to it Minister Marty Natalegawa said "improving the framework of cooperation between the two countries in the midst of the 60th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic relations constitutes a form of diplomacy that prioritizes soft power."

Indonesia, he said, is appreciating Thailand’s capability very much with regard to the settlement of various problems happening in that country. "Political storms" have hit that country many times and many times that country had also been able to show their capability in solving them," he said.

Marty said in terms of ASEAN Indonesia has decided that it would never become part of the problem. "We would not be like that. We will be a prolem solver and this has already been recognized," he said.

Source : kompas

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