ALGIERS- The Minister of Culture and Arts, Soraya Mouloudji received, Tuesday, at the headquarters of her ministerial department, the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Algeria, Chalief Akbar Tjandraningrat, to whom she expressed condolences over the deadly earthquake, which claimed the lives of 162 people in Indonesia.
At the outset of these talks, the Minister offered her condolences to the government and people of the Republic of Indonesia, as Algeria has learned with deep sorrow that up to 162 people lost their lives in the 5.6 magnitude quake in the West Java province.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the relatives of those who lost their lives as well as to the friendly and brotherly people and the Government of Indonesia, and wish speedy recovery to the injured,” the Minister said.
Recalling “the historical relations linking the two sisterly countries”, the Minister indicated that “the Bandung Conference in 1955 is edifying proof of the depth of relations between both nations and that Algeria still cherishes Indonesia’ support and its invitation to attend the first Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung which called for the independence and decolonization of Asian and African countries from European colonialism”.
“This sisterly country was among a handful of nations to have recognized Algeria before its independence. Indonesia actively supported Algeria in the struggle for independence by establishing the North African Independence Struggle Support Committee, chaired by Prime Minister of Indonesia Muhammad Natsir in 1951. In 1955, Indonesia organized the Bandung Afro-Asian Conference, and although at the time, our country was still colonized, Indonesia invited an Algerian delegation from the National Liberation Front to attend the conference,” she noted.
“This step constituted an opportunity for Algerian diplomacy to shine in international forums,” the Minister explained, referring to the convergence of views between both countries which would, inevitably, contribute to the consolidation, in the future, of the ties of brotherhood, friendship and cooperation between the two countries at best of the mutual interest of the two brotherly peoples.
As for the cultural exchange, both sides discussed the possibility of organizing, in the coming months, an exhibition of Indonesian customs and traditions at the “Mofdi Zakaria” Palace of Culture. In this wake, the two parties are considering a project to conclude a framework agreement for cooperation in the field of culture and arts, particularly in the creative economy and cultural industries, taking into consideration the recommendations of the works of the “Global Conference on the Creative Economy”, which was held in the Indonesian city of Bali during the period from 05 to 07 October 2022.
Besides, the Minister noted Indonesia’s participation in the International Cultural Festival of Illumination & Miniature, organized in the province of Tlemcen, the capital of Zianides. Placed under the slogan “Golden bridges”, this edition, which will run until November 24, brings together under one roof 80 artists, including 10 from Iran, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, the Sultanate of Oman, Turkey, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. They present a hundred works, between miniature and illumination.
The Indonesian ambassador, for his part, expressed “his satisfaction with the quality of diplomatic relations between the two countries and his desire to expand and consolidate them”, welcoming “the progress Algeria is making in all areas”.
Algeria and Indonesia have traditionally strong relations, based on religious and anti-colonialist solidarity. The two countries agree on the expansion of cooperation and the strengthening of relations. Algeria has an embassy in Jakarta which is also accredited to Singapore and Brunei, while Indonesia has an embassy in Algiers. Both nations are members of the Non-Aligned Movement, the Group of 77 and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The political relations between both countries are further enhanced by frequent high-level bilateral exchanges and meetings between senior officials and MPs, as well as the two states’ shared participation in several multilateral mechanisms, such as; the Non-Aligned Movement, Group of 77, and Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Algeria has spared no efforts to grant Indonesia non- permanent membership in UNSC, UNISCO and other organizations given that they share the same policy and are members in the non-alignment movement due to both countries deep- rooted and long-standing ties.
As for regional and international dossiers, Jakarta and Algiers note a convergence of views on several causes, such as; Libya, Palestine, and the Western Sahara.
On Saturday, July 18, 2020, a stele of late Indonesian President Ahmed Soekarno was erected in the commune of Ben Aknoun (Algiers) as a symbol of eternal friendship between Indonesia and Algeria as despite the fact that both countries are separated by a considerable distance, they succeeded in establishing a very close and strong friendship.
In March 2022, the Algeria-Indonesia Parliamentary Friendship Group was set up at the headquarters of the People’s National Assembly (APN), as an institutional framework enabling, in the future, to take joint initiatives capable of consolidating the links between parliamentarians.
Following the Java’s quake, Algeria has expressed its full solidarity with Indonesia, affirming its unfailing support to the Indonesian government and people to overcome this ordeal, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad said in a statement.
“Following the violent earthquake which hit the Java region, west of Jakarta, causing several victims and many injuries, Algeria expresses its full solidarity with the Republic of Indonesia, a sisterly country”, read the communiqué.
“Algeria, which presents its sincere condolences to the families of the victims and its wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured, affirms its unwavering support for the government and the people of Indonesia to overcome this painful ordeal,” the statement concluded.
