Revisiting Indonesia's foreign policy<\/p>\n
P.L.E. Priatna, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A new book titled In Search of a New Design for Indonesian
\nForeign Policy published by the Centre for Strategic and
\nInternational Studies (CSIS) Jakarta 2005 made interesting
\nmaterial for a one-day seminar.<\/p>\n
Indonesian foreign policy was questioned. The relevance of its
\n\"free and active\" foreign policy, in turn, was criticized, but
\nunfortunately, without a comprehensive understanding of what had
\nbeen achieved.<\/p>\n
Yes, it is true that we should keep abreast of the times,
\ncontinuously making adjustments as a way of adapting to
\nunprecedented global political changes.<\/p>\n
A new style of pro-active diplomacy and more public
\nparticipation in foreign policy are vital.<\/p>\n
Also needed is a concrete plan to anticipate domestic needs
\nand global changes in terms of the comprehensive human face of
\ntotal diplomacy.<\/p>\n
Continuity and change in free and active foreign policy are
\nvery necessary in facing new challenges.<\/p>\n
And it is fair enough to say that Indonesia survives right on
\nthe mark, adjusting from time to time.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia, so far, has been able to pass through several
\ndifficult times during the last 60 years\", said Jusuf Wanandi
\nduring the discussion.<\/p>\n
\"If a new design means a radical and fundamental change to the
\nbasic principle of free and active foreign policy, it should then
\nbe questioned\", said Ali Alatas, former Indonesian foreign
\nminister during the seminar.<\/p>\n
The design or blueprint for Indonesia's foreign policy over
\nthe next five years is in the hands of the foreign ministry.<\/p>\n
The soft power that we had, as mentioned by Dino Patti Djalal,
\nspokesperson of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, in his latest
\narticle in Kompas, is not merely a grand design but a set of
\nqualities based on dynamic social values and practical means of
\ndiplomacy.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's foreign policy is not egoistic. It is a strong and
\nsalient style of diplomacy that is accepted widely because it
\nmakes our counterparts comfortable in negotiations.<\/p>\n
Rudolpho C. Soverino, the former secretary-general of ASEAN
\nstated that the strong element of Indonesia's diplomacy lay in
\nits self-control in not dominating or throwing its weight around
\nneedlessly.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's diplomacy has weathered various storms, even in
\nthe worst situations to achieve the country's national goals.<\/p>\n
The writer is deputy director for legal and human rights
\naffairs at the Directorate of ASEAN Political and Security
\nCooperation, Department of Foreign Affairs. The article does not
\nnecessarily reflect his official position.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/revisiting-indonesias-foreign-policy-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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