Sweden - Indonesia

Sweden - Indonesia

Sweden and Indonesia have long-standing, good and close
relations, dating far back in time -- before Indonesia's
independence.

Diplomatic relations were established in 1950, Sweden being
one of the first countries to recognize the newly independent
Republic of Indonesia in late 1949. We have cooperated at the UN,
on North-South issues, we have had academic and cultural
exchanges, we have seen an upsurge in travel and tourism and,
last but not least, the backbone of our relations over the years
has been a very healthy trade and investment relationship.

Over time our relations with Indonesia have evolved taking on
new dimensions. When Sweden joined the European Union in the
middle of the 1990s, it had profound consequences for Sweden, not
least for Sweden's foreign policy. We joined a community of
nations that today comprises almost 460 million people and with a
combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that surpasses even that of
the United States. The European Union has also become the single
largest trading block in the world. Thus our bilateral ties with
Indonesia, now also includes a broader EU dimension.

Whilst sharing the basic values of the European Union binding
our member countries together, Sweden, just like other members of
the Union, will continue to treasure its national character and
safeguard what we believe are unique features of our society and
our country as a whole. For us that also means being proud of
doing things the "Swedish way".

Indonesia for its part has experienced even more profound
changes in recent years. Some countries will at some point in
their history go through political upheaval affecting the fabric
of their society, whilst others may experience an economic crises
of one sort or the other.

Few nations however, experience both crises simultaneously
like Indonesia did after 1997/98. Against this background
Indonesia's recovery and ongoing transformation in the recent
past has been extraordinary. The legislative and presidential
elections last year were truly remarkable achievements that
Indonesia is rightly proud of. Its economic recovery during the
last few years has been impressive. At present the economy is
growing at well over 5 percent. Under President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono a domestic agenda is evolving raising the hope of
further political, economic and social reforms.

Indonesia with its active and independent foreign policy, is
also making its voice more clearly heard internationally,
engaging further with its neighbors, with the major powers as
well as with emerging powers in different regions of the world.
But more important perhaps, is that a renewed sense of hope and
expectation is in the air in today's Indonesia.

In Sweden there is clearly a growing interest for further
engagement with Indonesia, be it closer political ties, further
trade and investment relations, enhanced development cooperation
or expanding academic and cultural exchanges.

Last year's elections helped focus international attention,
including that of Sweden, toward Indonesia. When Indonesia and
other countries around the Indian Ocean were hit by the tsunami
in December of last year, there was an unprecedented feeling of
sympathy for the victims and a strong determination to assist as
best as we could. In more than one way it brought our peoples
closer together.

Looking toward the future we must set our goals high for our
relations with Indonesia, including having full diplomatic
representation in our respective countries. From time to time we
may see things differently, as is only natural in the exchange of
views between democracies as long as we show mutual respect and a
genuine willingness to see each others point of view.

When President Susilo in January this year called upon certain
countries, including Sweden, to use their good offices in what
was then to become the Helsinki talks for a peaceful solution to
the conflict in Aceh, we did so without hesitation as has also
been the case in subsequent requests. From our perspective this
is one way of showing our friendship with Indonesia, giving our
support where it might be needed. We will continue to treasure
our relationship with Indonesia hoping to deepen out ties still
further in the near future.