Indonesia Would Like To Invite Putin to G20 Bali Summit

April 21, 2022 (EIRNS)—In an interview with Australian papers The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, Indonesia’s new Ambassador to Australia Siswo Pramono has defended Jakarta’s plan to have Russia at this year’s G20 summit in Bali in mid-November, comparing it to then Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott inviting Vladimir Putin to Brisbane in 2014 following Crimea’s vote to reunited with the Russian Federation and the July 17 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, over Donbas. The commercial flight with 283 passengers and crew aboard was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, and flew over Ukraine. Russia was blamed for shooting down MH17.

At a forum of G20 finance ministers this morning in Washington, top finance officials from Ukraine, Britain, the U.S., and Canada walked out as Russia’s representatives spoke. Western leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, have insisted Russia be expelled from the Group of 20 major economies over its military operation to defend the neighboring two republics’ independence from Ukraine. Indonesia, which holds the summit’s presidency this year, is facing the prospect of boycotts if Moscow retains a seat at the table.

“The world is facing a very serious economic challenge at the moment: how to help nations to undertake post-pandemic economic recovery. The war in Europe has made that challenge even harder,” said Rizal Sukma, who had been on Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s delegation to the Brisbane G20.  Sukma told the Australian dailies: “G20 should be able to address these problems, including the global economic implications of Russia’s war in Ukraine. If those big powers cannot even meet to discuss these problems, then what is the point of having a G20 summit? It means, big powers just don’t care about the suffering of people in emerging economies and developing countries. We hope all leaders can come to the summit. If not, just call it off.”