Part 2 of 2: Revisiting our foreign policy

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Jakarta

Remember: What makes Indonesia great and relevant is that, we have a brand of nationalism that is open, confident, moderate, tolerant and outward looking. And as our nation grows, we must make sure that we strengthen this brand of nationalism.

So this brand of nationalism -- the open, moderate, tolerant and outward-looking nationalism -- must be at the root of our internationalism.

Let me now move on to the challenges we are facing, in implementing our independent and active principle. Of these challenges, the challenge of security is often the first that comes to mind. In this enlightened age, weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, continue to proliferate.

As if these were not enough, we have to confront threats of terrorism and other transnational crimes, massive illegal migration, epidemics and degradation of the environment. Then there is the challenge of development, which is basically the problem of poverty.

Poverty is so widespread in the developing world, because of the crushing impact of the debt burden, the inability of poor countries to access export markets, the steady spread of epidemics, the implosion of cities, and the degradation of the environment. These are threats spawned by the imbalances and inequities of international economic relations.

Not all the challenges of the world situation today are totally unwelcome. There is the challenge of democracy.

All over the world, people are seized with a desire to take their destiny in their own hands, to personally choose who will govern them, and to take part in the decision-making processes that affect their lives.

If a government can accommodate the desire of its people to claim their basic rights, the results can be exceedingly positive for the country itself, for its region and for the world at large.

This is precisely what happened in Indonesia and several other Asian countries in recent times. Earlier, it happened in South Africa. It is now beginning to happen in the Middle East and elsewhere. These challenges clamor for an effective response for action. Indonesia is addressing these challenges in all the appropriate multilateral forums, through bilateral arrangements, and through individual national initiatives.

The foremost multilateral forum through which we address these challenges is, of course, the United Nations. We are aware that the UN Secretary-General in his report has presented a carefully formulated package of proposals in the interrelated fields of development, security and human rights, as well as for UN reform.

We agree with the basic thrust of the report -- that we cannot have security without development, nor can we have development without security, nor can we have both of them without respect for human rights. We share the Secretary-General's view that, at the global level we can effectively tackle these basic challenges only through a reformed and revitalized United Nations.

In this context, we have always urged that the composition and procedures of the Security Council be reformed -- to make the Council more democratic and representative of the present world constellation. We have always stood for the immediate implementation of the Monterey consensus, and for the completion of the Doha round of trade negotiations in a way that will favor development.

In the same context, we appeal to our developed partners to relieve the developing world of the debt burden and to allocate 0.7 percent of their gross domestic product for official development aid.

We look forward to the reform of the UN Human Rights Commission. In the meantime, as Chairman of that Commission, we are striving as much as we can during our tenure to advance all human rights all over the world. We will continue to wage an advocacy for non-proliferation of all weapons of mass destruction and for disarmament. We keenly anticipate the conclusion of a convention on terrorism.

We are carefully studying the package of proposals presented by the Secretary-General and in September, we will seek and work for collective action in response to these proposals. At the inter-regional level, we are actively involved in the development of the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership.

At the regional and sub-regional level, the mainstay of our foreign relations is, our involvement with ASEAN. With the rest of the ASEAN family, we are now building an ASEAN Community that rests on the pillars of a Security Community, an Economic Community, and a Socio-cultural Community.

In building this Community, we in ASEAN are taking full responsibility for our own security. We will also complete our integration into a single free trade and investment area.

It is Indonesia's hope that in the process, ASEAN will develop and nurture common values, particularly those that promote human dignity and freedom. The cause of democracy and human rights will thereby be advanced in this part of the world.

Apart from that, a larger integration process will be launched at the East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur later this year. This Summit will gain significance by virtue of the expected participation not only of ASEAN and its Northeast Asian neighbors -- China, Japan and South Korea -- but also of India, Australia and New Zealand.

ASEAN, however, should remain in the driver's seat, and should continue to be the center of gravity of the integration process.

There is as yet no clear-cut architecture of the East Asia grouping that will result from this Summit. But it is possible to anticipate the development of an East Asia community by 2012.

ASEAN-China, ASEAN-Japan and ASEAN-India free trade areas will be in place by 2010, and today Australia and New Zealand are seeking intensified economic engagement with ASEAN. It is just a matter of time, before the separate arrangements are welded together, to form one immense and powerful economic unit.

When that community comes into existence, it will comprise about half of the world's population and include the second largest economy, and the two most dynamic of the great economies in the world today.

Let me conclude by saying this: Those of you who have been in this country would feel that there is a new energy in Indonesia since the end of last year. I hope you would also notice the same energy in our foreign policy. Foreign policy has a critical role in my administration.

After all, we have today an Indonesia that is capable and eager to actively engage the international community, in the common task of building a better world.

This article is based on President Susilo's written speech for the Indonesian Council on World Affairs (ICWA) in Jakarta on May 19.