Dutch FM to Visit Indonesia Next Week
Jakarta. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi is set to meet with her Dutch counterpart, Stef Blok, next week in Jakarta, where the two will discuss bilateral cooperation in cybersecurity, countering terrorism and drug trafficking.
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday (28/06), Dino Kusnadi, director of European affairs at the Foreign Ministry, said the ministers will evaluate the comprehensive partnership that was established between the two countries in 2013.
"They will discuss a number of issues, including counterterrorism efforts, cybersecurity and, most importantly, efforts to counter drug trafficking," Dino said.
He noted that Indonesia is no longer a transit country for drug traffickers, but is becoming a user country, which increases the need for expertise to address the issue.
"We are working with the Dutch on a joint program focused on countering illicit drug trafficking. We're still discussing the details, but we hope that our foreign ministers will address it when they meet," Dino said.
According to a statement issued by the Dutch embassy in Jakarta, Retno and Blok will also discuss human rights and political issues related to Indonesia's non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Indonesia will begin its two-year term in 2019, while the Netherlands' will its own at the end of this year.
Blok is scheduled to travel to Surabaya, East Java, where he will visit the churches that were targeted by suicide bombers in May.
"As partners, the Netherlands and Indonesia stand side by side in the fight against terrorism. We want to take radicalization at the roots together," Blok said, as quoted in the statement.
According to Dino, the bilateral relations have been stable and collegial in the past decade.
"We enjoy a robust partnership and we hope this relationship will continue to improve and be mutually beneficial," he said.
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