Palestine Is a Key Test for Multilateral System: Indonesian FM Sugiono

New York: Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Sugiono said the Palestinian issue is one of the clearest tests of the multilateral system’s ability to uphold the principles on which it was founded.

Sugiono made the remarks in his speech at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States, on Saturday (Sept. 26).

He stressed that strengthening multilateral institutions would not be enough if the principles underpinning them were not upheld.

“International law must be upheld consistently, sovereignty must be respected, and colonialism must be brought to an end,” Sugiono said.

In this context, he described Palestine as one of the key issues testing the multilateral system’s ability to uphold these principles.

“This is where Palestine remains one of the clearest tests of these principles and a test of our conscience,” he said.

Sugiono highlighted the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, which he said demonstrated violations of international law. He said the situation was reminiscent of the world before 1945, prior to the adoption of the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the four Geneva Conventions of 1949.

He said Indonesia’s experience in fighting for independence from colonialism was an important part of the country’s stance on the Palestinian people’s struggle.

Sugiono said Indonesia’s path to independence had shaped its consistent support for the Palestinian people and their right to determine their own future.

Therefore, Sugiono said Indonesia would continue to support the Palestinian people until their right to self-determination is realized.

“And until an independent and sovereign Palestinian state is established based on the Two-State Solution, in accordance with international law and internationally agreed parameters,” he stressed.

Sugiono also said the Palestinian issue was not merely a regional matter in the Middle East, but also concerned the credibility of the multilateral system as a whole.

“Palestine is not an issue concerning just one region. It is a test of whether the multilateral system can uphold the principles it was created to defend and whether it can deliver results when they are most needed,” Sugiono said. (Razaqa Hariz)

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