Message from Ambassador P.R. Brouwer
Queen Beatrix, Prince Claus and Crown Prince Willem Alexander are making a state visit to Indonesia this week. It will be Queen Beatrix's first visit to Indonesia. In 1993 Prince Claus and Prince Willem Alexander paid a visit to Indonesia, while Prince Bernhard, the Queen's father, has visited Indonesia several times, the first time being when he accompanied Queen Juliana on a royal visit in 1971.
In the 24 years since that first state visit, many changes have taken place in the Netherlands, in Indonesia and in the world. In 1971, the Netherlands successfully completed the first phase of its reconstruction program in the aftermath of World War II. With five other European countries, the process of Europe's integration was started. Now, the Netherlands has linked itself strongly with 15 member countries of the European Union. In the past 24 years the Netherlands has grown into a veritable gateway to Europe, a center of first class services covering a prosperous market with a population of approximately 400 million people.
Unification with other European countries has enriched the Netherlands, not only in material terms. The free inter-state relations, the unlimited offer of magazines, books and television programs from neighboring countries have widened the views of many people and has made them more open toward new challenges.
And the challenges do exist: the ropes that tied down Eastern Europe have been released, with the hope there will be more extensive cooperation and relations. The existing institutions must be reviewed in order to maintain accuracy and speed of work without reducing their relationships. The continuity of the European integration should not mean that relations with the partner countries on the other side of the Atlantic, i.e. the United States and Canada, will weaken. It is also very important that the European Union continues to run its open politics toward the world outside Europe.
Indonesia has also developed rapidly during the past quarter of a century. Jakarta's scenery should convince anyone of this development. The development has not only taken place in the capital of the Republic of Indonesia. In many other cities and in rural areas it is very much in evidence. Twenty-five years ago Indonesia still had to rise from an economic depression. At that time, the Netherlands actively participated in the development and encouraged the international community to help Indonesia in launching its economy that was undergoing some difficulties. With tremendous effort by the Indonesian people, this country succeeded in becoming one of the countries with rapid economic growth, winning the world's confidence.
This strongly influences Indonesia's position in international politics. It is very correct to say that Indonesia has the reputation of a country which really wishes to promote stability and peace in the region and elsewhere in the world. Indonesia plays an important role in the Non-Aligned Movement. Besides, as a loyal member of the United Nations, Indonesia has actively helped the UN's peace efforts.
Indonesia, which consists of various ethnic groups and cultures, has always strived to forge unity within this diversity, for the sake of the whole nation's welfare. It is not easy to attain these noble ideals, but on the 50th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Indonesia, the world can see for itself how much has been achieved in realizing these ideals. However, Indonesia is also facing new challenges in continuing the integration process, firstly with neighboring countries in ASEAN and also with the Asia-Pacific countries. The basis was already laid down in the Bogor conference, which attained a resounding success under the chairmanship of President Soeharto last year.
Since the first state visit and the one this week, many changes have taken place in and around the Netherlands and Indonesia. However, those changes do not affect the feelings that have existed between our two countries.
In my opinion, the coming visit will certainly confirm that our two countries have succeeded in coping with all these changes. I would also like to express my hope that Queen Beatrix's visit will push further the developments and deepen the relations between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Republic of Indonesia in various fields.