Chief Justice Anwar Usman and Chief Justice Chinbat Namjil of the Constitutional Court of Mongolia signing a memorandum of understanding, Wednesday (8/9/2023). Photo by Humas MK/Ifa.

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JAKARTA (MKRI) — The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Indonesia (MKRI) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Constitutional Court of Mongolia. Chief Justice Anwar Usman and Chief Justice Chinbat Namjil signed the MoU on Wednesday, August 9, 2023 in Jakarta. The delegation of the Constitutional Court of Mongolia arrived in Jakarta to fulfill the MKRI’s invitation to attend the International Chief Justice Forum (ICJF), which will take place on Thursday, August 10, 2023.

During the meeting, Chief Justice Anwar Usman said it was a momentum for the MKRI to build a better and more intensive relations with the Constitutional Court of Mongolia. He said the MoU is not a conclusion of the two institutions’ relations, but the beginning of cooperation between them.

“We can start by intellectual or practical programs, such as exchanges of ideas, best practices, and experience in ruling in constitutional cases related to the citizens’ basic rights, as well as other important agendas to be discussed in the future,” he said.

In response, as the president of the Constitutional Court of Mongolia and the chief justice of the Association of Asian Constitutional Courts and Equivalent Institutions (AACC), Chief Justice Chinbat Namjil extended congratulations to the MKRI on its 20th anniversary. He added that the MoU signing between the two institutions had not been planned to coincide with the anniversary.

“This is a good thing, a good stepping stone for the relations between the two constitutional courts. I will ensure that after this signing, all of my staff members will implement the MoU practically. We also agree on its important points,” he said.

In his remarks, Chief Justice Namjil expressed appreciation for the MKRI’s important role in promoting constitutional supremacy in Asia. “I would also like to congratulate the MKRI for the success of the implementation of its duties. This memorandum of understanding not only marks good relations between the two courts, but also the two countries. I am certain that the ICJF will also be successful,” he emphasized.

MoU with Constitutional Court of Angola

After meeting with the Constitutional Court of Mongolia, Chief Justice Anwar Usman met with the President of the Constitutional Court of Angola Laurinda Prazeres Monteiro Cardoso. Both also agreed on signing an MoU. In his remarks, Chief Justice Anwar recounted his discussion with the Constitutional Court of Angola on strengthening the cooperation of the two institutions, which share the same vision and mission of mobilizing constitutional supremacy in Asia-Africa.

“Of course it is not without reason that the MKRI keeps initiating cooperation with the Constitutional Court of Angola. It is because our trust in you, who have similar commitment. And then, today, with the spirit of solidarity, the MKRI and the Constitutional Court of Angola will sign a memorandum of understanding,” he said.

Responding to his remarks, President Cardoso welcomed the signing of the MoU. She stated that even before signing the MoU, the MKRI and the Constitutional Court of Angola had had good cooperation.

“Without the memorandum of understanding, our [courts’] relations have been really good. Hopefully with this MoU, it will be even better. Our country’s regulations dictate that we must report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which warmly welcomed the initiation of this MoU,” she added.

She also announced good news that the Embassy of Angola had been set up in Jakarta in August 2023. The signing of the MoU between the two courts were well received socially and politically. She also requested the MKRI’s support for the bid that the Constitutional Court of Angola made to host a joint conference between the Conference of Constitutional Jurisdictions of Africa (CCJA) and the AACC in 2025 in Angola.

The purpose of the MoU between the MKRI and the Constitutional Court of Angola is to establish the general lines of concertation, cooperation and coordination between the parties, which mutually deepen knowledge and techniques, and reinforce and consolidate the importance of constitutional justice in the respective states. The scope of cooperation between the two will include mutual exchange of information and experience in the field of constitutional justice; exchange of laws adopted by the Parties within their competencies and other materials of legal character; institutional capacity building through mutual visits, secondment program, internship, professional courses, trainings, and joint research; as well as mutual support on organization of conferences, congress, seminars and/or other activities on judicial and legal issues of mutual interest as mutually agreed by both parties.

Author       : Lulu Anjarsari P.
Editor        : Tiara Agustina
Translator  : Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case of any differences between the English and the Indonesian versions, the Indonesian version will prevail.

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