Author: Ambassador (p) Gheorghe Savuica, President of IRSEA
On 20th of October 2024, Prabowo Subianto , President-elect of the Republic of Indonesia, will be sworn in.
It is overwhelmingly recognized that Indonesia is a very important regional power with active participation and substantial contribution in international relations, being the driving force in ASEAN.
Generally, a new Presidency is expected to attach new nuances in the course of its foreign policy, which could be, as well, the case of new Indonesian one, particularly under the current complicated and dangerous geopolitical developments taking place on almost the whole world, Asia-Pacific region included. ASEAN itself is confronted with internal and regional challenges and the expectations are that Indonesia will start and succeed to use the necessary political ingredients to have a more active and refreshed ASEAN. The regional and international analysts started from the very moment of President-elect victory to present their expectations on the foreign policy of Indonesia. A few of them were also highlighted by IRSEA (see www.irsea.ro).
IRSEA is honoured to present, further down, the remarks made by H.E. Meidyantama Suryodiningrat, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to Romania, at the reception held to celebrate the 79th Anniversary of the Independence Day of Indonesia.
“On August 17th, 1945, Indonesia declared its independence. Seventy-nine years later, the world’s biggest archipelago has become a top 15 world economy.
But this year’s independence touched some historic milestones.
We inaugurated our work-in-progress new capital – Nusantara. And Bahasa Indonesia, my mother tongue, was recognized as an international language by UNESCO.
Politically, it marks the end an era of Jokowi’s 10-year presidency.
In one month & one week, Indonesia’s seventh president will be sworn in. A new administration brings a different nuance. Yet the fundamentals of our Foreign Policy will remain the same: A diplomacy that is well-measured, well-calculated, well-mannered, result-oriented, yet firm in its principles.
Our Free and Active Foreign Policy is anchored in Non-Alignment. Indonesia did not choose to be Non-Aligned, it was born non-aligned.
As the world’s 4th largest democracy, Indonesia is a cheerleader for democracy, but we will not measure others using a political yardstick.
And despite our natural hard power with a military ranked 13th in the global firepower index, Indonesia remains a benevolent power in Southeast Asia. Rejecting foreign military bases, military alliances, with forces focused on defense and peacekeeping, making it the 6th largest contributor to UN Peacekeeping Operations.
In a world fractured by faith-based issues, Indonesia balances ethnic, cultural and religious multiplicity.
My country is home to 12% of the global Muslim population. Yet diversity, and religious freedom is a hallmark. Evident in the fact within the past four months we were privileged to host His Eminence Prof. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, and last week His Holiness Pope Francis.
I can also assure you, that the new administration will continue seeking a Global Order where sovereign nations freely determine their actions without external interference.
And the instrument of such an Order is, inclusive multilateralism.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a cornerstone of our Foreign Policy, as is indispensable organizations such as the OIC, the Non-Aligned Movement, and others.
Under Indonesia’s chairmanship, MIKTA (Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Türkiye & Australia) held its first Summit, affirming a positive role amidst global polarization.
As a G20 member, we believe the grouping is a catalyst for development and a forum of debate for powerful & sometimes querulous countries.
Paramount, is the UN. Despite its shortcomings the UN remains the most important forum of global peace. Hence we reject ‘mini-lateral groupings’ which undermine the UN and replay the proxy battles of the Cold War.
Indonesia further seeks to harmonize action on issues of dignity.
Issues such as Women’s empowerment will remain high on the agenda. Among them support for the OIC initiative on “Women in Islam”, under the auspices of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. And a joint initiative with Qatar on Afghan Women's Education.
Venerable colleagues of the Diplomatic Corps & Government.
Allow me to be frank and grim, for one moment.
It is said that diplomacy is long game. But sometimes things have gone on far too long to the point that our hearts break beyond tragedy.
President Joko Widodo has called for an end to breaches of peace in Europe through negotiated peaceful means in respect of the UN Charter.
In that same vein, Indonesia is in horror of the collective failure to stop the massacre in Gaza and creeping encroachment of the West Bank.
It has now become a question of moral legitimacy as many in my country thus ask: Why have those who often lectured us on human rights suddenly become silent when it comes to Palestine?
Indonesia’s commitment to Palestine stems from the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference – the first movement when decolonization was asserted. It is appalling that in the 21st Century, Palestine remains the only nation yet to be decolonized and independent.
We thus appreciate the remarks made by Foreign Minister Odobescu on Diplomacy Day, stating the need for a permanent ceasefire, and a permanent solution which includes a Palestinian state.
We applaud the “State of Palestine" taking a seat among us at the UNGA on Tuesday. Placed between Sri Lanka and Sudan in the blue, green and gold of the General Assembly Hall, this is a significant step towards full membership already supported by an overwhelming majority of UN nations.”
The remarks were published by IRSEA with the consent of H.E. Ambassador Meidyantama Suryodiningrat, based on the excellent relations so happily existing between the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia and the Romanian Institute for Europe –Asia Studies.
* The author is the Founder and President of IRSEA and Founder and Honorary President of Romania-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He is a graduate of Moscow State Institute of International Relations. As a career diplomat with over four decades of diplomatic service, an University recognized specialist on Southeast Asia and ASEAN, speaker of Bahasa Indonesia, Russian and English, he represented Romania as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Pakistan and Indonesia and Chief of Mission, with Cabinet Letter, to Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Philippines, Cyprus, Finland and Estonia.
He published multiple articles, thought-pieces and commentaries reflecting his views on current dynamics in International Affairs and the ongoing developments related to the greater scope of Europe Asia relations. He authored several major chapters in edited volumes on Romania’s Foreign Policy, published by the Romanian Academy.
Ambassador (p) Savuica is a former Director of the Republic of Moldova Division, former Director of the Asia Pacific Division and former Director General of the Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa and Latin America Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of ROMANIA.
He is married and has two daughters, a granddaughter and a grandson.