Fajarasia.co – Chairwoman of the Indonesian Parliament, Puan Maharani, held a bilateral meeting with the Chairwoman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, Valentina Matviyenko. Puan discussed a number of issues during a meeting with the leader of the Russian Parliament’s Upper House.
The meeting between Puan and Valentina Matviyenko was held on the sidelines of the 8th G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20) which was held at the DPR Building, Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Thursday (6/10/2022). One of the things discussed was related to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
“Indonesia urges that the war be stopped immediately, and that dialogue and diplomacy be put forward,” said Puan.
In various meetings with other parliamentary leaders, Puan has always encouraged the international community to continue to support dialogue and diplomacy as an effort to stop the war between Ukraine and Russia. He also always conveys Indonesia’s position on the conflict between the two countries where Indonesia respects the goals and principles of the UN charter and international law.
As mentioned when she met the leadership of the Ukrainian parliament yesterday, Puan said that the conflict between the two countries had had a heavy impact on many countries in the world. In particular, said Puan, regarding the supply of food (wheat and fertilizer) and energy.
“Indonesia hopes that the initiative to open the food supply flow or the Black Sea Grain Initiative will be maintained, for the common interest of all parties,” said the first woman who served as Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives.
Puan hopes that the Russian and Ukrainian parliaments can play a role in helping to resolve the conflict. He also mentioned the task force created by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to become a bridge for peace between Russia and Ukraine.
“Indonesia, as a member of the IPU Task Force, has visited the Russian Parliament and also Ukraine as part of efforts to seek peace through parliamentary diplomacy,” said Puan.
The former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture then spoke about the warm relations between Indonesia and Russia that had been built for 70 years. Puan alluded to the history of the leaders of the two previous nations, namely President Soekarno and Prime Minister (PM) Nikita Kruschev, who had warm relations.
“I heard that Prime Minister Nikita Kruschev regularly sends Russia’s best jam and pudding products to President Soekarno. Kruschev’s special treatment continues to linger in Bung Karno’s memory,” said Bung Karno’s grandson.
The Indonesia-Russia partnership was further marked by the Declaration on the Framework for Friendly Relations and Partnerships between the Republic of Indonesia and the Russian Federation in the 21st Century which was signed by the 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia Megawati Soekarnoputri and Russian President Vladimir Putin on 21 April 2003.
The good relations between the two countries are also reflected in, among others, bilateral meetings between the leaders of the two countries, such as when President Joko Widodo met with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on June 30, 2022. The meeting was part of a series of Indonesian peace missions after a visit to Kyiv, Ukraine.
“I really appreciate the results of President Joko Widodo’s meeting with President Putin in Moscow, which will, among other things, provide guarantees for logistics security for fertilizers and food, especially wheat, from Russia and Ukraine,” said Puan.
“I hope that the guarantee of the security of food supplies, especially wheat from Russia and Ukraine, can be maintained,” he continued.
While talking to Valentina Matviyenko, Puan also mentioned President Putin’s offer to Indonesia regarding Russia’s participation in the Nusantara Capital State (IKN) rail transportation project in East Kalimantan through the Russian Railways company. Indonesia is currently still waiting for the continuation of Putin’s offer to develop rail transportation in the country’s new capital city.
“I also appreciate Russia’s interest in being involved in the development of the State Capital or IKN,” said Puan.
He added that the DPR hopes that the plan to increase the partnership between the two countries to become strategic partners and the launch of Indonesia’s trade negotiations with the Eurasian Economic Forum can be realized in the near future. Puan said Russia is a potential market and main trading partner in Eastern and Southeastern Europe with a target of increasing the trade value to reach USD 5 billion.
“For Indonesia, Russia is also a potential country for investment cooperation because the realization value of Russian investment in Indonesia continues to increase,” he said.
Puan continued, DPR hopes that bilateral relations and cooperation between Indonesia and Russia that have been going well can continue to be improved. Especially by taking advantage of the bilateral cooperation forums that have been established and regular meetings are held, such as the Joint Commission Session on Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation, as well as Bilateral Consultation in the Security Sector.
“I encourage cooperation in the defense sector between Indonesia and Russia. For us, Russia is an alternative state for the procurement or modernization of Indonesian defense equipment,” said Puan.
“The Indonesian House of Representatives and the Russian Parliament also need to play the role of parliamentary diplomacy to participate in the pursuit of international peace and security,” he concluded.***
