Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi convened with Indonesian representatives in Ankara, Turkey, on Thursday (2/5/2024), refining measures to safeguard Indonesian citizens during the Middle East crisis.

"The Middle East situation is dynamic. We strive for de-escalation but prepare for worsening conditions, including citizen protection," Retno said.

Preparations for citizen evacuation if the situation worsens were discussed during the meeting, as reported by antaranews.com.

According to records, Indonesian citizens reside in conflict areas, including 1,524 in Jordan, 15,708 in Egypt, 217 in Lebanon, and 2,361 in Syria.

After the meeting, Retno met with Indonesian honorary consuls in Turkey, emphasizing Turkey's vast territory's challenges and appointing five honorary consuls to assist in citizen protection and economic cooperation promotion.

Retno had met Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defense Minister Yasar Guler to enhance bilateral relations and discuss global issues.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)