VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Finance Minister, Sri Mulyani during the G20 Summit in Bali 2022 (archive) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : The government is currently devising strategies for protecting the exchange rate of rupiah from adversary impacts of the Iran-Israel conflict, Finance Minister SriMulyaniIndrawati has said.

The minister observed that the current global situation would surely affect Indonesia's economy, including by disrupting the exchange rate of its national currency.

"We will continue to maintain the stability of the macro economy, both from the monetary and fiscal sides. To adapt to the mounting pressure, we have been in coordination with Bank Indonesia," she noted in her Instagram account @smindrawati, as cited in Jakarta on Sunday.

She added that the government had been striving to ensure that the APBN (state budget) can play the role as an effective and credible shock absorber.

The minister said she acknowledges that the strengthening of the US dollar exchange rate against rupiah might lead to an increase in the value of Indonesian exports.

She, however, noted that such a trend would also adversely affect the country's inflation rate.

On that note, Indrawati emphasized that the government would continue to take anticipatory measures while paying close attention to global dynamics.

"I believe that Indonesia will stand resilient in the midst of this situation," she said.

The state treasurer also expressed optimism about the national economy surviving global uncertainties, like it did during the COVID-19 pandemic era.

"With the support from our strong exports as well as surpluses in the trade balance, I believe that Indonesia's economy will remain stable as expected," she stated.

Earlier, Bank Indonesia affirmed that it would strive to ensure that the exchange rate of rupiah remains stable in the midst of declining US Fed Fund Rate (FFR) and geopolitical tensions escalating in the Middle East.

"We have been striving to maintain the stability of rupiah by resorting to foreign exchange intervention and taking other necessary measures," Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo remarked here on Friday (April 19).

In order to sustain Indonesia's economic resilience, he added, Bank Indonesia has been managing the flow of market-friendly foreign portfolios, including by implementing pro-market monetary operations that are integrated with money markets//Antara-VOI

French President Emmanuel Macron waits for the arrival of Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama (not seen) at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, April 12, 2024. REUTERS/Manon Cruz - 

VOInews, Paris : French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday he was confident the Olympics' opening ceremony in July on the river Seine would be a success, but added authorities prepared 'Plan B' options should security assessment closer to the games require it.

"We can do it and we will do it," Macron told RMC Radio and BFM TV of the plan to hold the July 26 opening ceremony with huge crowds around the Seine, where some 160 boats would set off for a 6-kilometre journey.

But France, he added, is not naive.

"If we think there are security risks we'll have plan Bs, and even plan Cs," he said.

One option, he added, would be to restrict the ceremony to the central Paris Trocadero square facing the Eiffel Tower. Another would be to move the event indoors to the Stade de France stadium//CNA-VOI

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a press conference inside a UNRWA school, at Al-Wehdat camp for Palestinian refugees, in Amman, Jordan Mar 25, 2024. (Photo: REUTERS/Alaa Al-Sukhni) - 

VOInews, Jordan : United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Sunday (Apr 14) issued a reminder that acts of reprisal involving the use of force are barred under international law after Iran's attack on Israel, while the US warned the Security Council it would work to hold Tehran accountable at the UN.

Guterres, speaking to a meeting of the UN Security Council, told member states that the UN charter bars the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state as he condemned Iran's attack on Israel and warned against further escalation.

Iran launched a swarm of explosive drones and fired missiles on Saturday in its first ever direct attack on Israeli territory, risking a major escalation.

The attack was in response to a suspected Israeli strike on Iran's embassy compound in Syria on Apr 1 that killed top Revolutionary Guards commanders and followed months of clashes between Israel and Iran's regional allies, triggered by the war in Gaza.

"The Middle East is on the brink. The people of the region are confronting a real danger of a devastating full scale conflict. Now is the time to defuse and de-escalate," Guterres told the meeting, which was called after Iran's attack.

Deputy US Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood called on the 15 member body to unequivocally condemn Iran's attack, as he said the Security Council has an obligation to not let Iran's actions go unanswered.

"In the coming days, and in consultation with other member states, the United States will explore additional measures to hold Iran accountable here at the United Nations," he said, without specifying what action the US would take.

"Let me be clear: if Iran or its proxies take actions against the United States or further action against Israel, Iran will be held responsible," he said, adding that the US took note of Guterres' remarks and that Washington's actions have been defensive.

Tehran, which had vowed retaliation for what it called an Israeli strike on its Damascus consulate on Apr 1 that killed seven of its officers, said its strike was punishment for "Israeli crimes". Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the consulate attack.

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, requested the council hold the meeting in a letter on Saturday to the council's president.

"The Iranian attack is a serious threat to global peace and security and I expect the Council to use every means to take concrete action against Iran," Erdan wrote in a post on X.

Guterres on Sunday also called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza after more than six months of fighting, the unconditional release of all hostages and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza as it faces famine.

"Regional, and indeed global, peace and security are being undermined by the hour. Neither the region nor the world can afford more war," he said//CNA-VOI

UN Security council (Photo : Archive) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : Indonesia expressed its deep concern over the escalation of the situation in the Middle East and urged Iran and Israel to exercise restraint following the former's missile attack on Israel on Saturday (April 13).

Indonesia's Foreign Ministry also urged the United Nations Security Council to promptly respond to the conflict escalation to prevent it from spilling over in the Middle Eastern region.

"Indonesia urges the UN Security Council to act immediately to de-escalate tensions and continue working towards lasting peace in the Middle East," according to the ministry's statement published on its social media on Sunday (April 14) evening.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council should take action to end the illegal occupation of Palestine and various violations of international law committed by Israel, the ministry said.

Indonesia also emphasized that a just settlement of the Palestinian issue through the realization of the two-state solution will be the key to maintaining regional stability.

Renewed hostility between Iran and Israel was triggered by an Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, on April 1.

The attack killed at least seven officers of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including two important generals. Iran accused Israel of being responsible for the fatal attack.

In response, Iran carried out a retaliatory strike by launching ballistic missiles and drones at Israel on Saturday evening.

Israeli authority claimed the attack had been successfully repelled. One Israeli airbase was damaged by the attack, albeit only minor damage being incurred.

As per Israeli request, the United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting on Sunday (April 14) local time.

In its letter to the UN Security Council president, Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, urged the UN to "unequivocally condemn Iran for the grave violations" and immediately declare IRGC as a terrorist organization.

This is despite the fact that for the last six months, Israel has sternly criticized the United Nations and flouted UN resolutions calling the country to cease its hostilities//Antara - VOI