JAKARTA (Bernama): President Prabowo Subianto has reaffirmed that Indonesia has made no financial commitment to contribute US$1 billion to the Board of Peace (BoP).
Instead, he said the BoP had only inquired about Indonesia’s readiness to deploy peacekeeping forces.
"Therefore, we did not say we want to contribute US$1 billion,” he was quoted as saying in a statement issued by Indonesia’s Government Communication Agency on Sunday.
On March 17, Foreign Minister Sugiono clarified that Indonesia did not pay the US$1 billion, as the figure was not a mandatory membership contribution and participation is not contingent on any fixed financial commitment.
Meanwhile, Prabowo also stressed that Indonesia was not involved in the founding donors meeting held on Feb 19 in Washington, DC, where financial pledges were made.
"There was a founding donors meeting on Feb. 19 in Washington, DC, but Indonesia was not there. From the beginning, when we were invited to join the Board, I said we had never committed to contributing financially at all,” he said.
Earlier, media reports said the meeting resulted in an initial pledge of US$17 billion for reconstruction, emergency relief and security stabilisation in the Gaza Strip, with the United States committing US$10 billion, while nine countries - including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar - pledged a combined US$7 billion.
Meanwhile, Prabowo stressed that Indonesia’s main contribution would be the deployment of peacekeeping forces to support lasting peace in Palestine and help safeguard civilians in Gaza, adding that the country could expand its contribution once reconstruction begins.
"If a ceasefire is achieved and reconstruction begins, Indonesia may participate further. We have the National Alms Agency (Baznas), and we have previously built a hospital there, as well as provided other forms of assistance in Palestine,” he said.
Prabowo explained that Indonesia’s decision to join the BoP was driven by its commitment to supporting a pathway towards an independent Palestinian state.
He said he had closely reviewed the 21-point plan proposed by the United States in September, noting particular interest in points 19 and 20, which outline steps towards Palestinian statehood and the establishment of dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians for peaceful coexistence.
These provisions align with Indonesia’s longstanding position that a two-state solution is essential for lasting peace in Palestine, he said.
However, he stressed that Indonesia would not hesitate to withdraw from the BoP if its decisions ran counter to national interests or failed to benefit the Palestinian cause.
-- BERNAMA
