Message of Ambassador, Proposing a new partnership<\/p>\n
Each year King's Day, which Belgium celebrates on the 15th
\nNovember, gives us the occasion to stand still for a moment to
\nreflect and to focus on the relations between Belgium and
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
This year Belgium having the presidency of the European Union
\nfrom the 1st July until the 31st December, at a crucial time of
\nthe European unification, places this message in a much larger
\ncontext.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, the recent shocking events of Sept. 11 in
\nthe U.S., will, in their own perverse manner, also leave their
\nmark in ways still unpredictable and for a long time to come.
\nHistory and humanity shocked in their deepest fibers.<\/p>\n
Belgium, at the center of an area with one of the most rapid
\ngrowth rates of the whole European Union, has an outstanding
\ninfrastructure, linking it with all modern communication systems
\nand located at the heart of Europe, at the cross-roads of its
\nvarious cultures.<\/p>\n
A high level of productivity, political and social stability,
\nwhich are the hallmarks of the Belgian society, form the basis of
\nits qualitative economic and human prosperity.<\/p>\n
Moreover, our country enjoys the status of an international
\nmetropolis: Brussels, the Belgian capital city, is not only
\nEurope's political center, but also the seat of many
\ninternational organizations and companies.<\/p>\n
The large presence of foreign embassies, representations and
\ncorrespondents of foreign media in Brussels demonstrates that
\nBelgium is indeed an international forum.<\/p>\n
The Belgian knowledge-based economy is characterized by its
\nopening onto the world, the dynamism of its entrepreneurs, the
\nhigh level of training of its workforce and the inventiveness of
\nits researchers.<\/p>\n
The combination of these factors explains why Belgium -
\ncharacterized mainly by small and medium enterprises - as
\nexporter, takes the 11th position in the world as trading power,
\nand the 10th position as importer.<\/p>\n
As a trading nation, Belgium exports of goods and services
\namount to about 70 percent of the GDP, exporting every day about
\nUS$700 million.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, our investments abroad and the foreign
\ninvestments in Belgium continue to gain importance, since trade,
\nin the current context of mondialization is inextricably bound to
\ninvestments.<\/p>\n
Surprisingly, in 1999 Belgium attracted $120 billion in
\ninvestments, which made it the second largest recipient country
\nin the world, after the U.S., while Belgium was the second
\ninvestor worldwide, after the U.K., with $122 billion.<\/p>\n
Notwithstanding the Asian crisis, many Belgian companies kept
\nexpanding and investing in Indonesia, looking at the long-term
\npicture. Being ranked number five in the UNDP-Human Development
\nReport shows the dynamics at work, not only in the economic, but
\nalso in the social development and quality of life perspectives.<\/p>\n
In times when globalization is often a strong recurring topic,
\nour Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt pleaded recently for a global
\nethical approach to the environment, labor relations and monetary
\npolicy. He defined this as \"ethical globalization, a triangle
\nconsisting of free trade, knowledge and democracy, alternatively
\ntrade, aid and conflict prevention\".<\/p>\n
He further proposed to \"replace the G-8 of the rich countries
\nby a G-8 of existing regional partnerships. A G-8 where the South
\nis given an important and deserved place at the table, to ensure
\nthat the globalization of the economy is headed in the right
\ndirection, as a place where binding agreements on global ethical
\nstandards, on working conditions, intellectual property and good
\ngovernance can be entered into. In other words, the creation of a
\nforum where the leading continental partnerships can all speak on
\nan equal footing: the European Union, ASEAN, the African Union,
\nMercossur, the North American Free Trade Agreement, etc.\"<\/p>\n
Finally, in the framework of the European Union's presidency,
\nBelgium is proposing an ambitious reflection exercise, which will
\nresult in December this year in the Declaration of
\nLaken\/Brussels, concerning a far reaching quality-oriented reform
\nof the European Union's constitutional and structural make-up.<\/p>\n
This in function of the enlargement process of the European
\nUnion, which is in full swing. Thirteen new countries, mainly in
\nEastern and Central Europe, are planning to join the existing 15
\nEuropean Union members in the coming years. From a historical
\nviewpoint, creating a stronger, wider and more stable Europe of
\n500 million citizens, the achievement of enlargement touches the
\nvery soul of the European Union. It is about sharing common
\nvalues, such as political democracy, respect for human rights,
\nsocial support of the weak, protection of minorities, market
\neconomy and peaceful coexistence within the rule of law. Through
\nthis process, the geographical, political and cultural identity
\nof Europe is resumed. Civilization can be measured by the degree
\nof diversity attained and the degree of unity retained.<\/p>\n
As an important democratic partner for Belgium and the
\nEuropean Union, Indonesia's transition, as a re-emerging player
\nin the security and stability of the region, gives us the
\nstrength to propose a new political partnership with Indonesia,
\nwhich would also support the anchoring of democracy and would
\ninvolve the promotion of constructive international relations.<\/p>\n
The whole idea is, in the whirlwind of changing complexities
\nin the world, to build coherent, interlinked creative new
\ntransitions, beneficial to all.<\/p>\n
As last year, I would like to appeal for a more caring
\ncapacity in international relations, which acknowledges that
\nhumans, communities and nations are not isolated, but are
\ninterdependent, flexible and ready to commit themselves. A
\ngreater degree of worldwide co-operation is essential to deal
\nwith the serious and interlocking issues that face the whole
\nhuman race. The undeniable trend is towards a more inclusive
\nsense of solidarity.<\/p>\n
In order to meet these requirements of sustainable quality
\nhowever, the evolution towards planetary consciousness must
\naccommodate also cultural diversity, generosity and tolerance.<\/p>\n
The values of modern, open, high-trust societies are :
\nuniversalism, open debate, conjectures judged by evidence and
\npursuit of continual improvement. We need to show how societies
\ncan combine innovation and inclusion, knowledge capital and
\nsocial capital, to generate lasting value for all.<\/p>\n
True accomplishment in mutual relations is not about winning,
\nacquiring or being on top. It is about sharing, giving and
\nincluding.<\/p>",
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