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Indonesia - Vice-President Addresses General Debate, 72nd Session
At the United Nations General Assembly today, Muhammad Jusuf Kalla, the Vice-President of Indonesia, underscored three points to achieve ‘Peace and a Decent Life for All on a Sustainable Planet,’’ the theme of the 72nd session.
Stating that “peace is never a given,” Mr. Kalla explained that it must be developed and nurtured through dialogue, inclusiveness, peaceful settlement of disputes, and non-use of force. “More importantly, we must develop the UN as a robust global institution that emphasizes the maintenance of peace, security and stability,” he said, expressing Indonesia’s support for UN reform.
Secondly, the Vice-President pointed out the need for synergies between sustaining peace and the development agenda – stressing that peace and stability must be cultivated to achieve sustainable development. Mr. Kalla noted the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement as among agreed-upon global commitments that must be translated into concrete actions.
The urgent need for a global action plan and partnership to combat terrorism, radicalism and violent extremism was another of his main points. He maintained that root causes must be tackled, citing extreme poverty, illiteracy and massive youth unemployment. Through a combination of “hard” and “soft” power, strengthening the rule of law and fostering community engagement, Mr. Kalla asserted, “we have de-radicalized over one thousand six hundred extremists, in over 72 prisons in Indonesia.”
As global challenges become more complex, it is evident that unilateralism is not a sustainable solution. “The world needs strong partnership [...] A true global partnership,” Mr. Kalla concluded.
