REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia called on G20 member states to strengthen cooperation in countering terrorism during the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Sunday. The message was conveyed by Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi during a working dinner of the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Buenos Aires on Sunday, a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Monday.
"G20 must demonstrate leadership and contribute concretely to fighting terrorism to maintain global security and peace," Marsudi noted.
Marsudi conveyed to the G20 foreign ministers that terrorism posed a real threat. She then spoke of a series of multiple bomb attacks that occurred in Indonesia's second-largest city last week.
The Indonesian authority and police had worked quickly to identify and arrest the alleged terrorists of the network. "Indonesian people are not afraid. We all must not fear terrorism and should not give room for terrorism," Marsudi emphasized.
Moreover, Marsudi praised solidarity among G20 member states following the terrorist attacks in Indonesia. She proposed measures to counter the issue of terrorism as an integral part during the discussion in the G20 meeting.
On the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting, Marsudi held a bilateral discussion with her Dutch counterpart, Stef Blok. During the bilateral meeting, Indonesia and the Netherlands agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fields of education and countering terrorism.
"Finance Minister Blok commends the efforts of the Indonesian police in addressing the recent terrorist attacks in Indonesia," Marsudi stated in her Twitter account.
Minister Marsudi also met Deputy Secretary of the United States John J. Sullivan on the sidelines of the G-20. Sullivan conveyed that the United States lauded Indonesia's leadership to host the Trilateral Ulema Meeting in Bogor aimed at contributing to the peace process in Afghanistan.
Deputy Secretary Sullivan also highlighted the US' commitment on implementing the strategic partnership between the United States and Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Marsudi conveyed to the US representative about Indonesia's concern on Prime Minister Netanyahu's statement concerning the status of Jerusalem that threatens the peace process and peace itself. "Indonesia has reiterated its strong support to Palestine," Marsudi said.
The G-20 Foreign Ministers meeting was attended by foreign ministers of G-20 member states and invited guests.
During Sunday's session, foreign ministers discussed the general global outlook, while Monday's agenda will focus on multilateralism and global governance as a response to new cross-border challenges, ranging from cybersecurity to the use of information and communication technologies to the changing paradigms in trade and migration.