Marty: It is understandable if there is a perception that the Board of Peace will rival the UN
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Former Indonesian Foreign Minister (2009-2014), Marty Natalegawa, believes it is understandable that there is a public perception that the presence of the Board of Peace (BoP) will rival the role of the United Nations (UN).
“That is a very reasonable question, because in the BoP charter itself, it does indicate that the BoP is an international organization that has a scope of work regarding international conflicts,” said Marty when met after a public discussion in Jakarta, Wednesday.
Marty said that efforts to achieve peace do not only have one path. The UN, he said, is not the only one working to maintain peace, but there are other institutions such as ASEAN, the African Union, and other institutions recognized in the UN Charter.
However, the presence of the BoP, which was initiated by one person, namely US President Donald Trump - a figure with a dominant personality - makes the public doubt the role of the BoP.
“However, this BoP, once again, is unique in nature because the personality of this person is very dominant and can be said to be supranational. So, that’s probably why questions arise. But we think the Indonesian government has probably considered all of this,” he said.
Furthermore, Marty believes that the formation of the BoP is a momentum for the UN to reform the institution that has been established since 1945, rather than being seen as a threat or competing institution.
“That there are other forums and efforts does not necessarily have to be seen as a threat. In fact, it is an encouragement for the UN to improve the way it works,” he said.
Marty said that the UN has been working to achieve peace in Palestine for decades, but has not yielded significant results. Therefore, according to him, it is very reasonable for pressure to arise from other forums regarding the Gaza peace mission.
On January 16, Trump announced the formation of the BoP, which includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
The Board of Peace also involves former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and US Deputy National Security Advisor Robert Gabriel.
At the inaugural meeting of the BoP in Washington DC, Trump expressed his hope that the BoP could oversee the UN in the future and ensure that the organization runs properly. He also said that the UN needs support, both in terms of operational facilities and funding.