Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Foreign Minister Arrmanatha C. Nasir delivered a firm message on international cooperation during a high-level meeting with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, declaring that multilateralism is a necessity in addressing increasingly complex global challenges.
“For Indonesia, multilateralism is not an option; it is a necessity,” FM Arrmanatha stated during his address in Jakarta on Monday.
The Foreign Minister noted that at a time when the world is in greatest need of cooperation, the space for multilateral dialogue is actually shrinking.
To reverse this trend, Arrmanatha called for the reform of the United Nations to ensure it remains relevant in facing the challenges of the 21st century.
“That is why reform is no longer simply desirable. It is urgent. Indonesia has been saying this for a very long time,” he stressed.
Arrmanatha further asserted that the principles of the UN Charter must remain the primary foundation for international relations. However, the institutions built upon these principles must adapt to changing times to deliver tangible results for their member states.
“Reform is not about reinventing the wheel. And it is not change for the sake of change. It is about a UN that delivers, a UN that serves, a UN that knows what it is for,” he noted.
In this context, Indonesia advocates for strengthening the voices of developing nations—particularly those in the Global South—within global decision-making processes.
Arrmanatha suggested that UN reform should encompass how the organization functions, conducts its operations, allocates resources, and responds to the needs of its member states.
“Reform is not a luxury. It is the price for relevance,” he asserted.
Closing his statement, Arrmanatha emphasized that Indonesia remains committed to the UN, in line with its Constitution—which mandates a contribution toward a world order based on independence, lasting peace, and social justice.
“That is why our support for the independence and self-determination of the Palestinian people has never wavered. Our own history taught us the value of sovereignty, equality, and solidarity. And it taught us one hard truth,” the minister stated.
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Translator: Kuntum Khaira R., Nabil Ihsan, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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