RI, Saudi Arabia Cooperate In Fighting Terrorism

JAKARTA, March 7 (Antara) - The Republic of Indonesia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have agreed to further strengthen cooperation in countering terrorism. Handling issue of terrorism needs to be raised as terror acts cause losses to the state, endanger the safety of every nation and disrupt peace. Therefore terrorism is one of the concerns of the two countries. In maintaining relationship and cooperation, Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud visited Indonesia from Mar 1 to 9. Boarding four Boeing B747-400 and 200, two Boeing B777, and two C-130 Hercules aircraft, the king and his entourage of about 1.5 thousand people, including 10 ministers and 25 princes, arrived in Jakarta on Wednesday for a state visit and vacation in Indonesia. After visiting Jakarta from March 1 to 4, the king and his entourage visited Bali on March 4, 2017. On the sidelines of his visit, King Salman also discussed the handling of terrorism and extremism with Indonesian parties and government. The visit of the Saudi Arabian King to Indonesia was utilized to further discuss about the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries. During a state visit in Indonesia, King Salman also visited Indonesian House of Representatives on Thursday (March 2) and delivered a speech before the members of House of Representatives and other invited guests at the parliament building. The invited guests included Indonesian former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and former vice president Try Sutrisno, Chairman of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Zulkifli Hasan, and Chairman of Regional Representative Council (DPD) Muhammad Saleh. In the meeting with Indonesian House of Representatives, King Salman asked fellow countries, mainly Muslim countries, to unite to combat terrorism and radicalism. "Indeed, the challenges we are facing today, particularly in Muslim countries and the world in general is terrorism, clash of civilization, lack of respect for state sovereignty, and foreigners intervention in the domestic affairs of other countries," King Salman said when delivering a speech on his visit to the Indonesian House of Representatives on Thursday. According to the king, today's challenges required states all over the world, in particular Muslim countries, to unite and coordinate in order to provide mutual benefits. "I would like to express appreciation to the House of Representatives for improving cooperation between the two countries through the signing of eleven cooperation documents between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia," he said. Furthermore, Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Setya Novanto, in his speech said King Salman's visit to Indonesia is very historical as that has a significant meaning for improving cooperation between both countries. The visit of King Salman to Indonesia has built a new round of relationship between the two countries and strengthen partnership. Meanwhile, the visit of King Faisal 47 years ago showed that Indonesia and Saudi Arabia shared the same view and attitude in combating communism and Zionism, he said. However, the threat of the world today is how to create peace and security, and prevent terrorism and radicalism, he added. "If Indonesia and Saudi Arabia can work together and are united, they may bring a great impact on creating world peace. Saunesia or Saudi-Indonesia axis should be established," he said. On Friday (March 3), the meeting between Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and a number of Indonesian Muslim figures together with President Joko Widodo have discussed peace-building efforts, including to promote peace and tolerance in Indonesia. "Saudi Arabia and Indonesia are bound by the Islamic faith and the king appealed for the upholding of tolerance, prevention of extremism and terrorism and building solidarity," Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said in Jakarta on Thursday. There were 36 Muslim figures who met King Salman at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta with President Joko Widodo, that day among others, General Chairman of Muhammadiyah, Haedar Nasir; Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama, Said Aqil Siradj; Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Indonesian Ulema Council, Din Syamsuddin; Head of Ponorogo Gontor Islamic Boarding School, Hasan Abdullah Sahal; Head of Islamic Boarding School of Walisongo Asembagus Situbondo, Kholil As'ad and religious figures, Arifin Ilham and Yusuf Mansur. Eleven MoUs Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla had earlier stated that Indonesia was ready to offer the king a number of opportunities to invest in the country's non-oil and gas sector. "The move will be in line with the Saudi government's vision for 2030, which envisages increasing international non-oil and gas investment," Kalla stated at the Vice Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Friday. He pointed out that the Indonesian government is prepared to make some interesting offers that Saudi Arabia could explore, as they wish to invest in a number of sectors, including banking and tourism. "Most of their investments are made in the western countries and some in neighboring areas, including Africa. Indonesia, as a big country itself, would surely wish to intensify such cooperation," the vice president emphasized. During his state visit in Indonesia, King Salman and President Joko Widodo have witnessed the signing of several MoUs in the fields of culture, health, improving the status of bilateral mechanisms, Islamic activities and da'awah (preaching of Islam) , education, science and technology, marine and fisheries, the handling of cross-border crimes, air services, small and medium enterprises, and trade. The eleven MoUs have been signed by Indonesia and Saudi Arabia parties were (1) declaration of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia concerning the increase of leaders of the joint commission meeting, (2) MoU on funding of development projects between the Saudi Fund for Development represented by its deputy director and the Indonesian government which was represented by Indonesian minister of finance, and (3) Mou on cultural cooperation between Indonesia's Ministry of Education and Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Culture and Information. Furthermore, (4) the cooperation program of developing small and medium enterprises between Indonesia's Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises and the Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises of Saudi Arabia, (5) MoU in the field of health cooperation between the Health Ministry of Indonesia and the Health Ministry of Saudi Arabia, (6) the cooperation agreement between the authority of Aero Nautica of Indonesia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In addition, (7) the joint work program in the fields of scientific cooperation and higher education between the Ministry of Research Technology and Higher Education of Indonesia and the Ministry of Education of Saudi Arabia, (8) MoU on Islamic affairs between the Religious Affairs Ministry of Indonesia and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Da'wah and Guidance of Saudi Arabia, (9) MoU in the fields of marine affairs and fisheries between both governments of Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. Then, (10) the trade cooperation between the Trade Ministry of Indonesia and the Ministry of Commerce and Investment of Saudi Arabia and (11) the cooperation agreement in combating crime between the Indonesian National Police and the Ministry of Interior of Saudi Arabia.