UA-Indonesia: Gut feeling of close rapport
28 March 2018, 16:30
“We expressed solidarity with the democratic countries of the world in expelling Russian diplomats for the Russia’s aggressive actions in the United Kingdom, and we expect support and condemnation of the Russian Federation for the long-term aggression in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine,” – I.Herashchenko
So was it emphasized by the First Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Iryna Herashchenko during a meeting with the delegation of the Republic of Indonesia headed by the Deputy Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia Mahyudin.
She stressed that the current aggressive policy of the Russian Federation necessitated the development of an integrated common mechanism for countering the security challenges in the world. The politician drew attention to the recent use of a nerve agent in the UK and noted that for four years Russia had been continuing to violate international law in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts and in the temporarily occupied Crimea, including the recent so called elections.
Iryna Herashchenko stressed that the occupation authorities were repressing against the representatives of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people, detaining and condemning them with groundless accusations.
“We highly appreciate the support by the Republic of Indonesia of the Ukraine’s initiatives aimed at restoring sovereignty of our state. Sanctions against Russia should continue until full restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity. Today, all efforts of the Ukrainian side are primarily focused on introduction of a UN peacekeeping mission in the Donbas," said I. Herashchenko.
During the meeting, the sides coordinated their positions on cooperation within the framework of international organizations. Ukraine will support candidacy of the Republic of Indonesia for the election of non-permanent members of the Security Council for the period of 2019-2020.
The First Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine noted the positive dynamics of inter-parliamentary and bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Indonesia. In 2017, the foreign trade turnover between Ukraine and Indonesia increased by 11% compared with 2016. Ukraine is interested in further cooperation, in particular in the fields of agriculture, engineering, energy and military.
In his turn, the Deputy Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia Mahyudin assured that Indonesia would continue to support Ukraine’s initiatives at international organizations. Mahyudin said that Ukraine and Indonesia should use the potential of bilateral cooperation not only at the inter-parliamentary level, but also at the inter-governmental one. Indonesia has a strong intention to strengthen cooperation in engineering, agriculture, medicine and tourism.
During the discussion, there implementation of gender equality was also talked about. Indonesia, for instance, has adopted a law that obliges political parties to involve at least 30% of women.
Iryna Herashchenko also reported on women's representation in politics in Ukraine. The politician noted that the removal of stereotypes and barriers against women in power structures remains one of the main issues of the present day.
Iryna Herashchenko and Mahyudin discussed the need for high-level and even summit talks in the immediate future.
Worthy of note
The People's Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia (PCA) is the legislative branch in Indonesia's political system. It is composed of the members of the People's Representative Council and the Regional Representative Council. Before 2004, and the amendments to the 1945 Constitution, the PCA was the highest governing body in Indonesia.
The assembly was formed after the first general election of 1971. It was decided at that time that the membership of the Assembly would be twice that of the Representative House.