Mega vows to restore RI's international stature<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri vowed on Friday to restore the
\ncountry's international stature by consistently adhering to a
\nfree and active foreign policy in dealing with neighbors and
\nother foreign states.<\/p>\n
Delivering her progress report before members of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR), Megawati said she wanted Indonesia
\nto be a leader in the Southeast Asia region and be able to strike
\na balance between economic development and the enhancement of its
\nnecessary supporting infrastructure.<\/p>\n
\"A new pillar will be established as regards the institutional
\nand procedural aspects, which will mainly deal with conflict
\nresolution mechanisms in the political and security spheres,\"
\nMegawati said.<\/p>\n
According to the President, the strategic objective of the new
\npillar would be to strengthen the existing ones, namely the Bali
\nConcord and the Bali Treaty of Amity and Cooperation enunciated
\nduring the Bali ASEAN Summit in 1976.<\/p>\n
\"The concept of the new pillar is under serious consideration
\nboth within and among ASEAN countries,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country, was once
\nseen as having the potential to take its place among the ranks of
\nthe \"Asian Tigers\".<\/p>\n
Former president Soeharto, who ruled the country for more than
\nthree decades, was also recognized as one of the most influential
\nleaders in the region.<\/p>\n
The country, however, lost international respect in 1997 when
\nit plunged into a deep economic crisis that led to Soeharto's
\ndownfall in May 1998.<\/p>\n
With the country growing increasingly stable, Indonesia is now
\ntrying to regain its international good standing by taking a
\nnumber of international initiatives.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has tried to thaw the diplomatic stand-off between
\nSouth Korea and North Korea, and diffuse the North Korean nuclear
\ncrisis. As ASEAN chairman, Indonesia has also taken the lead in
\nthe attempts to secure the release of Myanmar opposition leader
\nAung San Su Kyi, who has been detained by Myanmar's military
\njunta since May 30.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, together with South Africa, organized the first
\nAsian-African Sub Regional Organization Conference (AASROC) in
\nBandung, West Java, early this week.<\/p>\n
Megawati also said that Indonesia's foreign policy was
\ndirected at continuously reinforcing \"a conducive regional
\nenvironment through better interaction with neighboring
\ncountries, particularly East Timor, Papua New Guinea and
\nAustralia\".<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mega-vows-to-restore-ris-international-stature-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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