ICRC President pays courtesy call to VP

Jakarta-wapresri.go.id. Vice President (VP) Jusuf Kalla received the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Peter Maurer in the Office of the Vice President on Jalan Merdeka Utara, Jakarta, Monday (March 20).

Maurer met with the Vice President for the umpteenth time to re-confirm the cooperation formed over time between ICRC and the Government of Indonesia, especially in the humanitarian field.

“I hope that Indonesia and the ICRC could increase cooperation in the humanitarian field in conflict areas, especially in Southeast Asia,” said Maurer.

The Vice President, who is also the Indonesia Red Cross (PMI) chairman, also appreciated the good relations between Indonesia and ICRC.

“I appreciate the work of the ICRC in the world, especially in humanitarian activities in the Middle East,” said the Vice President.

During the meeting, Maurer also praised the creativity of Indonesia in its role and mission of humanity in the region, especially in Rakhine State, Myanmar.

As known, PMI is the first organization which besides the UN to enter Rakhine to give help in handling of the humanitarian crisis in the region after the outbreak of ethnic conflict.

“Currently we are planning to build a hospital for the Muslim and Buddhist communities there, in collaboration with an NGO,” said the Vice President.

He further said, everyone should not involve politics in dealing with the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.

In response, Maurer confirmed ICRC’s interest to cooperate with Indonesia in tackling the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, Thailand, and the Philippines.

The Indonesian model, according to him, is considered sufficient to provide a great chance of success to realize peace in the region.

“We have a long-standing partnership with Indonesia, especially with PMI. I hope this time we can further strengthen cooperation in the field of humanitarian assistance. Moreover, PMI is chaired by  the Vice President,” said Maurer.

In addition, ICRC also offered capacity building trainings, especially in the areas of health, disaster management, and humanitarian crises.

ICRC, according to Maurer, would take the role and experience of Indonesia in the Islamic community in order to respond to things on the humanitarian crisis in Muslim countries or areas with Muslim minorities.

“Indonesia is open to cooperation in humanitarian field with any agency,” said the Vice President responding to the offer.

Present along with the President of the ICRC were the organization’s Regional Director for Asia and Pacific Boris Michel and its Head of Regional Delegation to Indonesia and Timor Leste Christoph Sutter; while the Vice President was accompanied by the Head of the Secretariat of the Vice President Mohamad Oemar, Deputy for the Policy Support of Human Development and Equitable Development Bambang Widianto, Director General for Multilateral of the Foreign Ministry Hasan Kleib, PMI Secretary General Ritola Tasmaya, and PMI Chairman of Foreign Affairs Hamid Awaludin.