Alwi knows his way around the Mideast
JAKARTA (JP): The ease with which Alwi Shihab talks about the Middle East and Israel not only reveals his distinguished academic background, but also a likely bias when he takes charge of the country's foreign policy.
Alwi, 53, a college professor by background, was appointed the chief diplomat in the new Cabinet announced on Tuesday by President Abdurrahman Wahid.
He has the unenviable task of taking over from Ali Alatas, a career diplomat who ran Indonesian foreign policy for the past 11 years with such distinction that he will be a tough act to follow, especially for a novice like Alwi.
A scholar in Islamic studies who has taught at prestigious American universities, Alwi appeared confident about facing the demands of his new job when he was interviewed by The Jakarta Post, Kompas and Asahi Shimbun on Tuesday morning, several hours before the official announcement, at his residence in the southern suburb of Cilandak.
He said his rapport with the President could prove his biggest asset when he assumes the job.
The official of the National Awakening Party (PKB) was Abdurrahman's right-hand man in the run-up to last week's presidential election. His loyalty was rewarded with the prestigious but challenging Cabinet post.
Among his duties will be putting into practice Abdurrahman's declared wish to begin trade and cultural exchanges with Israel, no easy task in the face of likely public opposition.
Although a newcomer to diplomacy, Alwi said he would draw on his experience of trading in the Middle East and as a professor at Harvard University in Boston.
His goals include patching up the country's tattered international image and strengthening Jakarta's ties with the Middle East. The agenda includes broaching ties with Israel, he added.
"My experience as a trader in the Middle East many years ago will be quite helpful in making personal and official contacts with Middle Eastern businessmen."
He sees trade ties with Israel as an effective way to attract foreign investment, a key component in the country's economic recovery drive.
Indonesia was reluctant to trade Jewish state in the past because politics and ideology counted heavily in formulating its foreign policy, he said.
"But it is impossible for Indonesia to remain closed to Israel forever. Israel will simply shut the gates on us."
Israel has a powerful lobby in international business, particularly in the United States, and Indonesia could use its trade links with Israel to lobby American investors, he said.
He likened trade relations to a billiard game. "We are opening trade ties with Israel, but our final aim is really the American investors."
But he stressed the country would never abandon its support for the struggle of the Palestinian people for an independent homeland.
By establishing trade relations with Israel, Indonesia would be in a better position to lobby the Jewish state concerning its negotiations with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
"It's a case of hitting two birds with one stone," he said of the dual benefit of trade links with Israel.
Alwi said Indonesians, particularly followers of Islam, do not hate Jews but "we oppose Zionism for allowing imperialism and promoting the use of violence".
"Judaism is not the enemy of the people of Indonesia and Muslims. I don't know why we should close ourselves to Israel because most Muslim prophets, including the great Prophet Muhammad, had trade contacts with Jewish people.
"In handling the prolonged economic crisis, we need foreign investment and capital to rebuild our economy ... We know that most of the world's capital is owned by the Jewish people."
Like it or not, Indonesia must eventually deal with Wall Street corporations, which, he said, were predominantly Jewish.
"I want to use our trade ties with Israel to attract the Jewish business network to invest in Indonesia. It is my job to make the foreign ministry a gateway for a smooth flow of foreign capital into Indonesia, without disturbing our bilateral relations with Middle East countries."
He said he hoped Middle Eastern governments would understand the decision to begin trade and cultural ties with Israel.
In a show of solidarity with Arab countries, he said Indonesia would only establish diplomatic ties with Israel after the conflict in the Middle East was resolved peacefully.
Alwi also hopes to turn the Ministry of Foreign Affairs into a center of excellence.
"I want to improve the quality of human resources in the ministry, and to give priority to the economic orientation in its foreign mission to attract more foreign investors to Indonesia."
He said the country needed capable and skilled diplomats to repair its international image.
"We will seek more foreign scholarships for young diplomats to take up doctorate programs in universities abroad. Our diplomats will be encouraged to compete not just for foreign postings but also for scholarships."
Alwi said he also planned to introduce efficiency measures in the ministry commensurate with Indonesia's economic condition.
He will minimize the use of luxury cars and encourage diplomats to fly business class instead of first class.
"It's improper for a minister or an ambassador to drive luxury cars during an economic crisis. Once the crisis is over, they can charter a plane if they want to."
Alwi said he would fight to ensure that all diplomatic postings would be filled by as many career diplomats as possible because it was important for career development.
Born in Makassar, South Sulawesi, in 1946, Alwi graduated from the Islamic Teaching Institute (IAIN) in the same town after studying philosophy.
His father, Abdurrahman Shihab, was cofounder and a professor of philosophy at the institute.
He received his doctorate in philosophy from Ain Syams University in Egypt in 1990.
Since 1996, he has been a professor of Islamic sciences at Hartford Seminary and Harvard Divinity School and a dean of Paramadina Mulya Islamic University in Jakarta.
Alwi is also a member of the Board of Trustee of the Center for the Study of World Religions, which is affiliated with Harvard Divinity School. (rms)