Call for new Mideast peace drive
Hello, Mr President: Macron taking a selfie with students during his visit to the National University. — AFP
France and Indonesia called for progress on 'mutual recognition' between Israel and the Palestinians at a key meeting next month as Emmanuel Macron visited Jakarta, bringing the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation into his diplomatic efforts.
It came as Paris and Jakarta signed a series of cooperation agreements, with Macron seeking to deepen trade and defence ties with South-East Asia's largest economy on a three-country tour promoting France as a balancing power between the United States and China.
Speaking next to his French counterpart, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto made the rare pledge of recognising Israel if it allowed for a Palestinian state.
Indonesia has no formal ties with Israel and support for the Palestinian cause runs high there.
'Indonesia sees that the two-state solution and the freedom of Palestine is the only way to achieve the true peace,' Prabowo told a news conference yesterday.
'We must acknowledge and guarantee Israel's rights as a sovereign country that must be paid attention to and guaranteed safety. Indonesia has stated that once Israel recognises Palestine, Indonesia is ready to recognise Israel and open the diplomatic relationship.'
Macron issued a joint statement with Prabowo that condemned Israeli plans to take control of Gaza and any moves to 'forcibly remove the Palestinian population from their homeland'.
Macron with Prabowo during a press briefing at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta. — AFP
But they also called for restoring the political prospect of the two-state solution at a conference Paris will co-chair at the UN headquarters in New York next month with Saudi Arabia and expressed hope for a 'credible roadmap'.
They said the event 'should allow for an irreversible path towards the realisation of a Palestinian State, (and) mutual recognition between Israel and Palestine'.
Macron earlier held talks with Prabowo after being greeted by a guard of honour, gun salute and thousands of young Indonesians waving French flags.
'Our partnership on all the fields, defence and security, economy, culture is already strong, but we are strengthening it,' Macron told Prabowo.
The nations yesterday signed a series of memoranda of understanding on cooperation in a range of fields including defence, trade, agriculture, disaster management, culture and transport.
Today, he will travel to Yogyakarta on Indonesia's Java island to visit the world's largest Buddhist temple, before heading to Singapore to conclude his six-day tour.
In the face of Donald Trump's tariffs and the United States' economic confrontation with China, Macron was seeking to turn his 'third way' position into contracts for French companies, particularly in defence, energy and critical minerals.
He said there would be new Indonesian orders for Rafale jets from French company Dassault Aviation, whose chief Eric Trappier joined the French delegation. — AFP
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