OIC Foreign Ministers Visit Russia to Discuss Gaza
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22 November 2023 18:50 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and her counterparts in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) visited Moscow, Russia on Tuesday, Nov. 21 to once again express their condemnation of Israel's aggression in Gaza.
The visit, which was a follow-up to OIC and Arab League joint summit on Nov. 11 was welcomed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
This visit marked Arab and Muslim countries' second ministerial visit to the permanent member of the UN Security Council. Prior to Moscow, Retno and other foreign ministers visited China to meet with Wang Yi.
Other permanent members of the UNSC are the UK, France, and the US, who all backed Israel.
In this 4-hour meeting, Retno Marsudi claimed that Israel's self-defense pretext is utterly unacceptable. "First, Israel, a colonialist, cannot use such an excuse," she exclaimed. "Second, self-defense cannot be used as an excuse to kill civilians and attack civilian facilities."
Israel's aggression in Gaza has killed more than 14,000 Palestinians, including 5,840 children and 3,920 women, according to the latest estimation by its Health Ministry.
Russia, according to Retno, agreed to the points adopted in the OIC-Arab League Summit resolution. "It is urgent to immediately take concrete measures to halt the acts of violence, putting a ceasefire in place, and ensuring a smooth and unhindered corridor for the distribution of humanitarian assistance," she said.
Thus, Retno stressed that support from nations, especially those sitting as permanent members of the UNSC is important.
The meeting with Lavrov also discussed Israel's attack on the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza and the possibility of holding a peace conference in Palestine.
To reporters, Retno said that her side continues to connect with the Indonesian Hospital, but direct contact with the three Indonesian nationals volunteering at the hospital has been unsuccessful.
The information obtained from various UN agencies in Gaza has been minimal, she said.
After Russia, Retno and her counterparts will head to London to meet Foreign Minister David Cameron and to Paris to meet France President Emmanuel Macron.
NABIILA AZZAHRA A.
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