Message from Ambassador P.R. Brouwer
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.