Free and active foreign policy<\/p>\n
With reference to your news item on page two of The Jakarta
\nPost on Oct. 5, 1995, entitled, \"free and active foreign policy
\nno longer relevant\", I would like to make the following comment:<\/p>\n
All academics aside, for a person who keenly observes the
\nhappenings of the world today, the term \"free and active\" means
\nthat the country is free to frame and pursue a foreign policy of
\nits own choice while actively participating in international
\nfora.<\/p>\n
In other words, terming foreign policy as \"free and active\"
\nrestores the confidence of the people that their country is not
\nfalling prey to any trap laid by other countries to usurp their
\nsovereignty. Hence, the term \"free and active\" has got more to do
\nwith the people of the country than with the realities of
\ninternational relations.<\/p>\n
In the realm of international relations, it is diplomacy, the
\nattitude of the government, and military maneuvers which
\ndetermine the country's position and not the term by which the
\npolicy is known.<\/p>\n
Relations between any two nations will not vary much if only
\nthe name of the foreign policy is changed while everything else
\nremains the same.<\/p>\n
Therefore, when one talks about the relevance of \"free and
\nactive\" foreign policy, one is talking about whether the country
\nshould determine its own foreign policy and course of action or
\nif someone else should decide for it.<\/p>\n
During the New Order administration, Indonesia's initiatives
\nand global reach has increased manifold with its membership in
\nNAM, G-77, G-15, ASEAN, OPEC, APEC and ARF, to name a few.
\nClearly, all these initiatives were possible because of the so-
\ncalled \"free and active\" foreign policy.<\/p>\n
RAJESH KUMAR<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/free-and-active-foreign-policy-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }