Indonesia's foreign policy principles maintained

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)