Jakarta ( WNAM MONITORING): The Foreign Ministry has emphasized that Indonesia will not withdraw Indonesian Defense Forces personnel from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), and they will continue to carry out their duties.
“Indonesia’s peacekeeping forces continue to carry out their duties based on the direction of the UNIFIL Force Commander while ensuring their safety and security,” spokesperson of the ministry, Rolliansyah Soemirat said in a written statement released in Jakarta on Friday.
He stressed that Indonesia remains committed to supporting the UN Peacekeeping Mission (MPP) in southern Lebanon, which is in keeping with the mandate of the Constitution.
Indonesia, he said, is still the largest troop-contributing country to UNIFIL, with a total of 1,230 personnel.
Indonesia’s commitment to continue serving in UNIFIL is in line with the UN’s decision to keep peacekeeping troops in Lebanon, he added.
“The Indonesian government continues to communicate and coordinate with various parties to ensure the safety and security of its personnel in Lebanon,” he said.
Soemirat also assured that TNI personnel in UNIFIL are still safe and healthy.
Earlier, Argentina became the first country to withdraw its troops from UNIFIL, citing safety concerns. The country had sent four personnel to UNIFIL.
The withdrawal of personnel from UNIFIL is the prerogative of each country, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, said on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, President Prabowo Subianto, during his meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Brazil on Sunday, reiterated Indonesia’s commitment to continue supporting the strengthening of UN peacekeeping forces.
“The need for peacekeeping forces, we are ready to provide troops,” Prabowo said, adding that Indonesia is ready to send peacekeeping forces to Palestine if needed.
