Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Indonesian expatriates here celebrated their country’s 74th Independence Day here with much fanfare. Jamal Bakr Balkhoyor, director general of Saudi Foreign Ministry (Makkah Region branch), several consul generals, senior officials and a large number of Indonesians attended the function.

Welcoming the audience, Indonesian Consul General Mohamad Hery Saripudin said the presence of so many guests demonstrated “our shared virtue of promoting better relations and cooperation. Tonight, we will not only share the joy of Indonesia’s culture and cuisine, but this reception will also provide a good occasion of meeting colleagues as well as revitalizes the spirit of cooperation for our prosperity and noble goals.”

He also congratulated the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the country’s 89th National Day and wished the Kingdom and its people continued progress and prosperity.

The 74th Independence Day of Indonesia, he said, is marked by several important achievements and events. “Last April, approximately 192 million eligible voters of Indonesia, cast their vote to determine their new leaders and parliamentary members,” he said.

The election in Indonesia has been hailed by international observers, including the Islamic Organization Cooperation (OIC), which sends an Election Observation Mission (EOM), as a success story of a democratic process. The candidate who received the national mandate will be inaugurated on October 2019.

“In the international fora, Indonesia enjoyed the privilege of being elected as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, two years’ tenure starting from January 2019,” he said.

Indonesia will continue to realize its commitment to promote and protect human rights, peace, and social justice within its territory and the rest of the world. We will foster a culture of transparency, openness, and accountability to uphold democracy, he said.