REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi summoned Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Gary Quinlan regarding the discourse on the transfer of the Australian Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Ambassador Gary arrived at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at around 5:15 p.m. and went straight to the meeting room with Foreign Minister Retno.
"The Australian Ambassador this evening was asked to come to (the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Pejambon for us to ask for a more detailed explanation regarding Australia's statement regarding the Palestinian issue," Indonesian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir told reporters in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Also read: The status of Jerusalem is like Mecca: Abbas
Foreign Minister Retno had previously expressed Indonesia's point of view regarding Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison's statement about the possibility of moving the Australian Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. In a joint press statement with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad al Malki at Gedung Pancasila, Jakarta, Tuesday, Foreign Minister Retno explained that the issue of Jerusalem is one of six issues that must be negotiated and decided as the final part of achieving comprehensive peace.
The peace process between Palestine and Israel must be achieved through a two-state solution, which is also in accordance with the UN Security Council resolution and the UN General Assembly.
"Therefore, Indonesia asks Australia and other countries to continue to support the Palestinian and Israeli peace process in accordance with what has been agreed upon, and not take steps that could threaten the peace process and world security stability," said Retno.
Retno also contacted Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne regarding this issue, and emphasized Indonesia's alignment with Palestine in the struggle for true independence.
Earlier, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a discourse to move his embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
The announcement was made after Morrison met with the Liberal Party candidate for Wentworth who is also a former ambassador to Israel, Dave Sharma.
According to Morrison, this discourse is important to consider given that the "two-state solution" has not gone well and not much progress has been made, although he said he remained committed to the resolution.
"You don't do the same thing and expect different results," he was quoted as saying by ABC News.