President Jokowi To Meet Malaysian, Philippine Foreign Ministers

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will receive the foreign ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines at the Yogyakarta Presidential Palace on Thursday to respond to hostage-taking incidents and prevent their recurrence in the maritime borders.

The meeting with the Indonesian president will also be attended by the commanders of the armed forces of the three neighboring countries.

This is a follow up to a statement issued by President Jokowi at the Bogor State Palace on Sunday, May 1, according to which a meeting among the representatives of Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines will be held to discuss security issues related to the maritime territories of the three countries.

"Therefore, the meeting between the representatives of Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines will be held on May 5," the president remarked on Sunday.

The meeting is being organized to discuss security issues in the ASEAN region, particularly in the maritime borders of the three neighboring countries, where peace was disturbed following the hijacking of a ship and hostage taking by the Abu Sayyaf armed group.

Indonesia is currently making all-out efforts to free four of its citizens still held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf extremist group.  

 "We are still working hard to set free the four Indonesians held hostage," the president affirmed on Sunday. (WDY)