BANDA ACEH – Menteri Luar Negeri Retno Marsudi emphasized that her role in the future as the Special Envoy of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for Water Affairs signifies the first Indonesian person to be appointed as a special envoy of the UN Secretary-General. “This appointment… marks the first time an Indonesian has been trusted to serve as the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General,” said Retno in a statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the YouTube platform, monitored online in Jakarta on Friday (13/9).
She considered the appointment as a great honor for herself and Indonesia, especially since she is also the first Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Water Affairs. The position is a new position.
According to the Indonesian Foreign Minister, her decision to accept the new mandate has been consulted with President Joko Widodo, who gave his blessing for her to undertake this UN-level task.
“The President-elect Prabowo Subianto also gives full support for this appointment,” said Retno, adding.
She said her new role will be taken on starting November 1, 2024, after her duties as foreign minister in President Joko Widodo’s Cabinet Indonesia Maju are completed.
Retno ensures that her nearly 40 years of experience as a diplomat, including 10 years as foreign minister, will be utilized to the fullest extent possible to carry out this international task.
Some of the tasks that Retno will undertake as the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General in the future include strengthening partnerships and joint efforts to advance the global water agenda, including following up on the results of the UN Water Conference 2023.
In addition, she is tasked with enhancing global cooperation and synergy between international processes in supporting international water targets, including SDG 6 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.
Retno is also entrusted to advocate for water issues to become a top political agenda, both within and outside the UN, and mobilize actions and funding sources to address the global water crisis and drive the fulfillment of global water-related targets.
