On foreign diplomacy

On foreign diplomacy

The hosting of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) annual summit in Bali last October, where the
leaders agreed on the creation of the ASEAN Community in 2020,
will very likely turn out to be the diplomatic highlight of
President Megawati Soekarnoputri's three-year presidency, which
comes to an end in October this year. Her chief diplomat, Hassan
Wirayuda, worked hard to convince his ASEAN colleagues that the
establishment of a Security Community is just as important as
Singapore's initiative on the Economic Community. Both are among
the pillars of the ASEAN Community.

Some diplomats joked that the security community goal will be
easy to achieve -- provided, of course, that Indonesia does
something to clean up its own messy house. The joke, however,
reflects a more serious aspect: a peaceful and prosperous
Indonesia is crucial to the region's security and prosperity, and
vice versa.

In terms of achievements, the determination of Megawati's
government to bring to justice the perpetrators of the Bali
bombings, and the relatively quick identification of those who
were responsible for the explosion at the JW Marriott Hotel last
year, have won strong international recognition.

Some scholars and legislators have stridently criticized the
government's inability to play a significant role in
international fora like the United Nations, and in World Trade
Organization (WTO) negotiations. Indeed, we sometimes felt
disappointed that the government often overreacted to such
rebukes. Apparently the Ministry of Foreign Affairs still cannot
fully adjust itself to the current political reality where the
center of power is no longer in the hands of the President alone,
but also in other political institutions.

A small example is the revealing of the names of Indonesian
ambassadorial candidates by legislators some time ago. Claiming a
prohibition on this under international rules, the Ministry
simply blamed the press for reporting the names without asking
itself whether such a rigid practice needed to be adjusted in a
democratic society.

Despite the shortcomings, many of us have been encouraged by
recent developments whereby our younger diplomats have been given
the opportunities to prove that their capabilities are no less
impressive than their more senior colleagues. Look at Marty
Natalegawa, the foreign ministry's spokesman and acting ASEAN
director general, who is not only very accessible to the media
but also clearly authoritative in giving statements.

We must also keep in mind that our performance in
international diplomacy greatly depends on our domestic
situation. As has been proved in the past, implementing the
country's ideal of a "free and active" foreign policy will only
be possible when economic performance, and political and security
stability, are a lot better. All countries tend to be more
inward-looking when confronted by profound domestic problems

At the same time we should also remember that in all
circumstances the ultimate goal of our diplomacy must be to
promote our national interests, the priorities of which are, for
now, boosting trade and foreign direct investment.

At this time, as the nation faces a general election for the
country's legislatures in only four months, and its first direct
presidential election in only seven, it is natural that the
energy and attention of the government and political parties are
primarily focused on how to do optimize their success in the
elections. Jargon and rhetoric will dominate their public
statements. Anti-American campaigns, for instance, would easily
get many voters exited, although some political parties are aware
that it would not be so easy to live up to the rhetoric.

The government will also continue its current foreign policy
at least until October when the country will gain a new
government. Understandably, Megawati wants a major international
achievement before July. Perhaps she hopes that her current
effort to persuade North Korean leader Kim Jong-ill to end the
nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula will produce a miracle.
She will also likely continue visiting other countries to win
support for Indonesia's territorial integrity -- at the likely
cost of forgetting that the answer to the question of territorial
integrity depends on how the government ensures that all citizens
feel Indonesia is their true home.

While the incumbent government has only 10 months to go, there
are high expectations that the foreign affairs sector will not be
ignored.

Whoever takes over the national helm in October, our foreign
policy, as well as free-market economic principles, will likely
not change much.

And what can we hope now from the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs apart from the continuance of its routine international
activities? Ensuring better protection for our migrant workers in
the Middle East and other major recipient countries is one of the
most urgent tasks that needs to be taken in hand. Another
priority is to get more concrete foreign investments and not just
commitments.

A free and active (proactive) foreign policy has characterized
Indonesia since its independence, although it was often misused
by the rulers. They ignored the basic spirit of a free and active
policy: that the ultimate objective is to protect and promote the
well-being of the country's citizens. To that end, continuous
efforts are therefore needed to ensure that this is put into
practice, regardless of the country's domestic situation.