Revisiting Indonesia's foreign policy

Revisiting Indonesia's foreign policy

P.L.E. Priatna, Jakarta

A new book titled In Search of a New Design for Indonesian
Foreign Policy published by the Centre for Strategic and
International Studies (CSIS) Jakarta 2005 made interesting
material for a one-day seminar.

Indonesian foreign policy was questioned. The relevance of its
"free and active" foreign policy, in turn, was criticized, but
unfortunately, without a comprehensive understanding of what had
been achieved.

Yes, it is true that we should keep abreast of the times,
continuously making adjustments as a way of adapting to
unprecedented global political changes.

A new style of pro-active diplomacy and more public
participation in foreign policy are vital.

Also needed is a concrete plan to anticipate domestic needs
and global changes in terms of the comprehensive human face of
total diplomacy.

Continuity and change in free and active foreign policy are
very necessary in facing new challenges.

And it is fair enough to say that Indonesia survives right on
the mark, adjusting from time to time.

"Indonesia, so far, has been able to pass through several
difficult times during the last 60 years", said Jusuf Wanandi
during the discussion.

"If a new design means a radical and fundamental change to the
basic principle of free and active foreign policy, it should then
be questioned", said Ali Alatas, former Indonesian foreign
minister during the seminar.

The design or blueprint for Indonesia's foreign policy over
the next five years is in the hands of the foreign ministry.

The soft power that we had, as mentioned by Dino Patti Djalal,
spokesperson of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, in his latest
article in Kompas, is not merely a grand design but a set of
qualities based on dynamic social values and practical means of
diplomacy.

Indonesia's foreign policy is not egoistic. It is a strong and
salient style of diplomacy that is accepted widely because it
makes our counterparts comfortable in negotiations.

Rudolpho C. Soverino, the former secretary-general of ASEAN
stated that the strong element of Indonesia's diplomacy lay in
its self-control in not dominating or throwing its weight around
needlessly.

Indonesia's diplomacy has weathered various storms, even in
the worst situations to achieve the country's national goals.

The writer is deputy director for legal and human rights
affairs at the Directorate of ASEAN Political and Security
Cooperation, Department of Foreign Affairs. The article does not
necessarily reflect his official position.