Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia, in collaboration with Colombia, is striving to synergize the efforts of building peace and the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through actions of "Crops for Peace". "One of Indonesia's priorities as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is to synergize the effort to create peace with the implementation of SDGs. The 2030 Agenda states clearly that there can be no sustainable development without peace, and no peace without sustainable development," Indonesian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahendra Siregar stated here Tuesday.
Siregar delivered the statement at the opening of the two-day International Workshop on Crops for Peace (IWCP) 2019 that began in Jakarta November 5, 2019.
The international workshop – held by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the government of Colombia and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Indonesia – will delve further into the links between peace-building and agriculture or plantation-based economic development.
Indonesia and Colombia are now serving at the UN. Indonesia serves as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council while Colombia chairs the UN Peace Building Commission.
"I hope that with these very important positions at this very timely occasion we will be able to collaborate to contribute to achieving sustainable peace worldwide," Siregar said.
Indonesia has always committed to be a part of the solution and contribute to international peace and security. It is a direct implementation of the country's constitutional mandate in which the Indonesian government has to implement a free and active foreign policy, he emphasized.
Related news: Indonesia highlights role of 10 elected UNSC countries
"Like many nations in the world, we believe that peace is a multi-dimensional concept that goes beyond the actions of war. Economic development, community empowerment, human rights, and democracy should be part of the picture. Our history is full of trials and tribulations and it has taught us that peace is something that we must thrive for, build, cultivate, and nurture," Siregar remarked.
Related news: Indonesia prepped to contribute to realization of SDGs: President
Elements that sustain peace including conflict prevention, mediation, and conflict resolution should correlate with the 2030 Agenda as the nexus between peace and development, he further stated.
In this regard, Indonesian and Colombian governments believe that such a correlation can be achieved by promoting the process of peace-building through economic development, specifically the development of agriculture and a creative economy.
The IWCP 2019 is being attended by around 100 participants consisting of representatives of Indonesian and Colombian governments, academics, and representatives of other foreign governments in Indonesia. Among them are 21 participants from 12 countries, who come from Afghanistan, Colombia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Myanmar, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Thailand, the Philippines and Timor Leste.
The participants will share their experiences and best practices regarding peace-building or conflict resolution through agricultural-based solutions. (INE)
Related news: UN Secretary General lauds Indonesia's role in UNSC
Related news: Indonesia, Colombia to strengthen bilateral relation
