MPR Chairman affirms Indonesia remains neutral amid US-Iran conflict

Indonesia, in a situation like this, is not possible to take sides. Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Chairman of the People’s Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia (MPR RI), Ahmad Muzani, has affirmed that Indonesia does not take sides amid the conflict between the United States and Iran. “As a country that adheres to an active free politics, Indonesia in a situation like this is not possible to take sides,” said Ahmad Muzani during his meeting with pesantren leaders and the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Indonesia, Faisal Abdullah Al Amoudi, in Jakarta on Wednesday. Muzani stated that amid this conflict, it is Indonesia’s obligation, with its active free politics, to continuously seek peaceful solutions so that diplomacy becomes the way to resolve all differences. This stance was also affirmed by President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto in the head of state’s communications with leaders of Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia. “The ulama, the kyai, the pesantren leaders gathered here and those not present also hope that Indonesia plays an active role in making peace efforts in the Middle East,” he said. Moreover, creating a culture of peace is part of the constitutional mandate, as enshrined in the preamble of the 1945 Constitution. He believes that the ulama also have their own ways to encourage peaceful negotiations so that peace in the Middle East can be realised. Meanwhile, Muzani also expressed appreciation to Saudi Arabia for not being provoked amid the still volatile situation in the Middle East. Although peace negotiations between the US and Iran in Pakistan have not yet produced a peace agreement, Muzani hopes that peace efforts and diplomacy continue to be the way to achieve peace. “We must believe in the power of diplomacy and negotiations because diplomacy and negotiations have for decades been able to maintain world peace since the Second World War,” he said.