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.