The Netherlands and Indonesia: A Common Future

The Netherlands and Indonesia: A Common Future

Message from the Ambassador of the Netherlands, Mr. Ruud
Treffers, on the occasion of Queen's Day 2005

This year's celebration of the Dutch National Day or Queen's
Day, every 30th of April, has a very special character for
several important reasons.

One of them is that this year Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the
Netherlands celebrates her silver jubilee after being in office
for 25 years.

Another milestone is Indonesia's celebration of 60 years of
independence. An occasion which will obviously be overshadowed by
the disastrous events that took place in Aceh and North-Sumatra
at the end of last year and the beginning of this year.

It should be clear to Indonesia that the Netherlands will
continue to give its heartfelt support in any possible way to the
thousands of people affected by the tsunami and consequent
earthquakes in the regions involved.

Indonesia and the Dutch people

It is now almost sixty years ago since our two peoples went
their separate ways. What has remained is the living heritage of
a long-shared past. Many Indonesians who now live, work and study
in the Netherlands ensure that the old, familiar image we have of
Indonesia is changing and getting a new perspective.

Nevertheless, the traces of the past are still to be found
everywhere in the Netherlands. A great number of Dutch citizens
were born in Indonesia or have lived here, and in many ways in
their houses and towns they keep the treasured memories alive.

The literature about the period of the Netherlands-Indies
constitutes an integral part of Dutch literature, which it has
enriched with themes, images and words typical of this part of
the world and to which it has added a special dimension by its
interest in the mysterious forces our authors ascribe to this
country. On the more everyday level, it is beyond question that
Dutch cooking can no longer be imagined without the aroma's and
flavors of Indonesian cuisine. All this contributes to ensuring
that the present-day Dutch, too, remain fascinated by Indonesia,
have warm feelings for the Indonesian people and are interested
in developments of Indonesian society.

Indonesia's international role

In the Netherlands there is high appreciation of Indonesia. By
virtue of its achievements, Indonesia has acquired increasing
international prestige and influence. An example of this is the
successful democratic electoral process that Indonesia has
traversed last year. While the elections of 1999 have set a
milestone, the elections of 2004 have set a trend whereby a
pluralistic and stable democracy is sinking ever deeper roots in
Indonesia.

The leading role played by Indonesia in ASEAN as well as in
organizing and hosting the recent Asia-Africa summit are proof of
its important position in this region. In 2001 Indonesia received
the UN Human Development Award for its National Human Development
Report. The Indonesian Chairmanship of the UN Commission on Human
Rights by Ambassador Wibisono is another example of successful
international exposure. These developments show that the prestige
of your country rests on far more than the size of its territory
and the scale of its economy.

Dialogue between Indonesia and the Netherlands

The Netherlands favors a strategic partnership with Indonesia
to our mutual benefit in which there is room for constructive
dialogue and open exchanges of view. In doing so, we must have
respect and understanding for differences in traditions and
customs. We must continue to discuss the fundamental rights and
values that the members of the international community have
established. What is important, however, is the will to
understand each other which is imbued with friendship. I believe
this is precisely the mature attitude that is shown by our two
nations. In my view the forces that bind us will always be
stronger than those that separate us.