Indonesia's foreign policy principles maintained

JAKARTA (JP): After officially taking over the reins of the foreign ministry on Tuesday, Alwi Shihab stressed his determination to maintain Indonesia's principles in its foreign policy, including maintaining a strong focus on regional issues.

Speaking after the official handover of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from his predecessor Ali Alatas, Alwi noted that President Abdurrahman Wahid's express intention to visit neighboring member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China was evidence of this continued policy.

Alwi said the President's planned visit to Beijing was a natural development because China, along with Japan and other Asian countries, was Indonesia's closest neighbor.

Visiting neighboring countries is seen as an obligation for a country which respects and wants to have close relations with its neighbors, he said.

"It is a universal law to take care of your neighbors before your household," Alwi remarked.

He also noted that China was considered a country which was "sympathetic" to Indonesia.

"After that we can take care of our distant neighbors, like Middle Eastern and Western countries," Alwi said.

He said it would be inappropriate if the President's first official visit was to the United States.

President Abdurrahman is scheduled to visit Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines this weekend. He will continue on to the United States in an unofficial capacity for medical treatment.

Abdurrahman said he intends to pay an official state visit to China in the near future. However, no date has been set.

Alwi, 53, took over the foreign ministry on Tuesday from Ali Alatas, who held the post for nearly 12 years.

Unlike Alatas, Alwi is relatively new to the formal world of foreign policy.

His resume boasts an impressive array of managerial and educational experiences, including his stint as a lecturer at Harvard University in the U.S. However, his past work has been more concentrated in the field of religious affairs.

Alatas was asked by Alwi to continue his involvement with the foreign ministry as a senior adviser.

Israel

Despite his pledge to uphold the established tenets of Indonesian diplomacy, Abdurrahman and Alwi have already created waves by stating their intention to open trade ties with Israel.

"The initial steps have been taken to open trade ties. Maybe not this year, which only has two months remaining, but soon," Alwi said.

He said the Indonesian government saw Israel as a country with a powerful lobby and a strong international network which could help increase investment in Indonesia from around the world, particularly the West.

Several Islamic groups here already have expressed their opposition to the plan.

Indonesia has been a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause in the past, and has been steadfast in refusing to open diplomatic ties with the Jewish state.

The apparent turnaround by the new administration, however, should come as no surprise. Abdurrahman created an uproar in 1994 when he secretly paid a visit to Israel.

Alwi stressed that Jakarta would not establish formal ties with Israel until a comprehensive and fair solution for Palestine was found.

He said if Indonesia opened informal channels with Israel, Jakarta could help further the Palestinian cause.

"Currently, if we wished to talk about Palestine, Israel would reject us because we do not have any ties with Israel," he said, adding that "this is a chance for us as the largest Muslim country in the world to be heard by Israel".

Alwi said exaggerated sensitivities would only harm Indonesia. "Even the Prophet Muhammad traded with the Jews."

On relations between Indonesia and Australia, which were damaged by the situation in East Timor, Alwi said Indonesia would send ambassador designate Arizal Effendy to Canberra as soon as possible.

Indonesia delayed Arizal's departure to Australia following Canberra's condemnation of Jakarta over the violence in East Timor.

"Australia has sent many positive signals it wishes to improve relations between our two countries and we have to be responsive," he said.

Australia should not apologize to Indonesia over East Timor, but they could at least express their regret for failing to be more sensitive to Indonesia over the issue, he added.

Alwi said Indonesian diplomats faced a tough task selling Indonesia to the world and introducing all nations to the country's new and healthy climate. (04)