Long term commitment: Australia and E. Asia (2)<\/p>\n
This is the second of two articles based on a speech delivered
\nby Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer at a
\nmeeting of the Indonesian Council on World Affairs and the
\nIndonesia-Australia Business Council in Jakarta on July 9.<\/p>\n
JAKARTA: Australian involvement in the Asian region has been
\nchallenged most recently by the One Nation Party.<\/p>\n
Some Australians, as is the case around the world, are finding
\nrapid change brought about by the irresistible force of
\nglobalization, disconcerting. Yet we cannot close our eyes and
\nwish globalization away -- technology makes that impossible. The
\ngreat challenge for all our countries is to make globalization
\nwork for us.<\/p>\n
It is a basic rule of politics, cynically exploited by One
\nNation in Australia and its xenophobic counterparts elsewhere,
\nthat it is much easier to tear people down and oppose, than
\nexplain and create. One Nation proposes no realistic ideas about
\nAustralia's future -- only a desire to return to an era that no
\nlonger exists anywhere else in the world which is looking
\nforward, not to the past.<\/p>\n
One Nation cannot even claim to be nostalgic in outlook. It is
\ndivisive, regressive and heartless. In a world where we have as
\nnations and cultures increasingly to work together, One Nation's
\noffensive comments on race would, if implemented, set people
\nagainst people and culture against culture. For the last half
\ncentury, so much of international diplomacy has tried to bury
\npolicies such as these so we can all live together in greater
\nharmony. That too must continue to be our aim in the 21st
\ncentury.<\/p>\n
One Nation promotes an insular Australia -- inward looking,
\nnarrow-minded, protectionist and separated from the region and
\nthe world. Down that path lies disaster for Australia, and the
\ngovernment will not take it.<\/p>\n
(Member of Parliament Pauline) Hanson's thoughtless comments
\nand policies also endanger our export earnings and Australian
\njobs. It is sad that she is willing to risk the future of
\nAustralian families for the sake of ambition and fleeting
\nnotoriety. The Australian government will not compromise the
\nfundamental interests of Australia for short-term political
\nexpediency.<\/p>\n
The real test of a relationship, the real test of commitment,
\ncomes not when times are good, but when they are difficult. By
\nthat standard, Australia has proven its commitment to the region.<\/p>\n
It is now just over a year since the region's financial crisis
\nbegan with the first jolts to the Thai economy. The downturn hit
\nthe region hard, coming as it did after many years of
\nunprecedented economic growth and increasing regional confidence.
\nBut after the inevitable recovery, we will be able to look back
\non this period as the time the region came of age.<\/p>\n
Australia, too, has gained a new stature in response to the
\nregional crisis, though our challenges are different.<\/p>\n
The government has been determined -- through timely and well-
\nfocused assistance, and robust advocacy on the region's behalf --
\nto play its part in the recovery. That is mirrored by Australian
\nbusiness, which sees the downturn not as a signal to pull out,
\nbut rather one to make even greater efforts in regional markets.<\/p>\n
Australian companies that stay the course in Indonesia and do
\nnot pull out will be rewarded in the longer term. In Indonesia,
\nin particular, the prospects for eventual economic recovery and
\nlong term growth are excellent. This is a great country with a
\nlarge pool of highly talented people.<\/p>\n
There is a new maturity in our attitude to our neighbors.
\nSince taking office in 1996, the government has made the
\nexpansion and strengthening of our bilateral relationships in
\nAsia its primary foreign and trade policy task. The results are
\nnow apparent. We have ceased being the region's \"demandeur\",
\nbadgering our neighbors for attention and recognition. Australia
\nis now a genuinely close partner and regional friend, a country
\nthat can be relied on in good times and in bad.<\/p>\n
In the midst of all the understandable concern about the
\ncurrent situation, I believe some genuine fundamentals are often
\nforgotten by outside observers, and perhaps even by some
\nIndonesians.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country. Its
\nnatural resource base is huge and diverse, ranging from mineral
\nresources, to forestry and fisheries. Its location on global
\nshipping routes and near other major economies gives it great
\npotential for foreign trade. Moreover, the economic reform
\nprogram, one of the most ambitious ever attempted, is likely to
\nimprove greatly the efficiency and competitiveness of the
\neconomy.<\/p>\n
The success Indonesia achieved in its struggle for nationhood
\nin 1949 captured the world's admiration and inspired many other
\ncountries. The current process of political and economic reform
\nis no less a process of nation-building, and requires no less
\ncourage and resolve. The Australian government is absolutely
\nconfident that Indonesia will succeed in this endeavor and will,
\nas a result, fill its proper place, in every sense as one of the
\nworld's biggest and most important countries.<\/p>\n
In the years since Australia assisted Indonesians as they
\nfought for independence, our relationship has had its problems
\nand its successes -- as in any relationship, there are occasions
\non which we will differ. But our commitment to Indonesia -- and
\nto Asia -- cannot, and will not, alter. We will certainly be
\ndoing whatever we can to help Indonesia, and to encourage others
\nto do the same.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/long-term-commitment-australia-and-e-asia-2-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}