Message from the Ambassador of the Netherlands, Mr. Ruud

Message from the Ambassador of the Netherlands, Mr. Ruud
Treffers, on the occasion of Queen's Day 2005

The Netherlands and Indonesia: A Common Future

This year's celebration of the Dutch National Day or Queen's
Day, every 30th of April, has a very special character for
several important reasons.

One of them is that this year Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the
Netherlands celebrates her silver jubilee after being in office
for 25 years.

Another milestone is Indonesia's celebration of 60 years of
independence. A celebration that will obviously be overshadowed
by the disastrous events that took place in Aceh and North-
Sumatra at the end of last year and the beginning of this year.

It should be clear to Indonesia that the Netherlands will
continue to give its heartfelt support in any possible way to the
thousands of people affected by the tsunami and consequent
earthquakes in the regions involved.

Indonesians and the Dutch people

It is now almost sixty years ago since our two peoples went
their separate ways. What has remained is the living heritage of
a long-shared past. Many Indonesians who now live, work and study
in the Netherlands ensure that the old, familiar image we have of
Indonesia is changing and getting a new perspective.

Nevertheless, the traces of the past are still to be found
everywhere in the Netherlands. A great number of Dutch citizens
were born in Indonesia or have lived here, and in many ways in
their houses and towns they keep the treasured memories alive.

The literature about the period of the Netherlands-Indies
constitutes an integral part of Dutch literature, which it has
enriched with themes, images and words typical of this part of
the world and to which it has added a special dimension by its
interest in the mysterious forces our authors ascribe to this
country.

On the more everyday level, it is beyond question that Dutch
cooking can no longer be imagined without the aroma's and flavors
of Indonesian cuisine. All this contributes to ensuring that the
present-day Dutch, too, remain fascinated by Indonesia, have warm
feelings for the Indonesian people and are interested in
developments of Indonesian society.

Indonesia's international role

In the Netherlands there is high appreciation of Indonesia. By
virtue of its achievements, Indonesia has acquired increasing
international prestige and influence. An example of this is the
successful democratic electoral process that Indonesia has
traversed last year.

While the elections of 1999 have set a milestone, the
elections of 2004 have set a trend whereby a pluralistic and
stable democracy is sinking ever deeper roots in Indonesia. The
leading role played by Indonesia in ASEAN as well as in
organizing and hosting the recent Asia-Africa summit are proof of
its important position in this region.

In 2001 Indonesia received the UN Human Development Award for
its National Human Development Report. The Indonesian
Chairmanship of the UN Commission on Human Rights by Ambassador
Wibisono is another example of successful international exposure.
These developments show that the prestige of your country rests
on far more than the size of its territory and the scale of its
economy.

Constructive Dialogue

The Netherlands favors a strategic partnership with Indonesia
to our mutual benefit in which there is room for constructive
dialogue and open exchanges of view.

In doing so, we must have respect and understanding for
differences in traditions and customs. We must continue to
discuss the fundamental rights and values that the members of the
international community have established. What is important
however, is the will to understand each other which is imbued
with friendship. I believe this is precisely the mature attitude
that is shown by our two nations. In my view the forces that bind
us will always be stronger than those that separate us.