Indonesian summit diplomacy in 2013 Andre Omer Siregar  ;  An Assistant Special Staffer to the President  for international relations

JAKARTA POST,  10 Januari 2014

                                                                                                                        

For President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, 2013 was a busy year on the diplomatic front. Not only did he enhance bilateral relations with countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas, he also facilitated consensus at regional and multilateral forums.  Multilaterally, President Yudhoyono continued the mandate from United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to co-chair the Post-2015 Development Agenda. Engaging every high-level panel meeting from Monrovia to Bali to New York, he helped produce a 12-point development agenda for further negotiations by all UN member states.  After receiving another mandate from World Trade Organization (WTO) members in Geneva for Indonesia to host the ninth ministerial conference, Yudhoyono started early lobbying with every leader he met to secure a new multilateral trade regime. The December meeting produced a Bali Package, the first WTO agreement in 18 years. At other forums, like the Organization of the Islamic Conference and G20, Yudhoyono continued to promote Indonesia’s views on global economic and security issues. Specifically at the G20 meeting in Russia, he insisted that all countries coordinate their monetary policies to avoid unnecessary financial fallouts, such as the impact of the US Federal Reserve’s tapering policies.  He also submitted a middle way for dealing with the threat of Syrian chemical weapons when leaders seemed divided. As the most senior G20 leader and sitting between US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Yudhoyono could encourage the leaders to pursue a peaceful, rule-based, multilateral approach to the crisis. Regionally, Indonesia was entrusted to chair the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, which focused on maintaining the region’s economic growth momentum and resilience. It was also an opportunity to engage smaller countries in the Pacific Rim so that all could benefit.  While at the ASEAN Summit in Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia actively promoted regional dialogue, peace and stability and development in preparation for the 2015 ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). It was during the 23rd ASEAN and Related Summit that President Yudhoyono reiterated the timeliness of discussing an Indo-Pacific Treaty for Friendship and Cooperation to resolve a number of regional issues.  The ASEAN-Japan Summit in Tokyo was also an opportunity to focus on regional stability and economic cooperation, while resolving outstanding regional territorial claims peacefully.  Indeed, attending those summits was not merely for ceremonial purposes or just to rub shoulders with other leaders. Instead, they provided an opportunity — if not a responsibility — to leave an Indonesian impression when addressing international challenges. And world leaders were very receptive to Indonesia’s views on various issues, especially security.  On the bilateral front, Yudhoyono journeyed to four continents in four months. He reinforced bilateral relations by building closer bonds with each leader and facilitated business relations.  In February, he visited Liberia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Egypt to enhance ties with the African region. In March, Yudhoyono accepted the invitation of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to attend the Turismo Borst, followed by a state visit to Budapest — exploring greater trade relations with Western and Eastern Europe.  In April, he conducted state visits to Singapore and Myanmar to solidify economic relations with both ASEAN countries, while holding frank discussions with Bloomberg financial analysts.  In May, he journeyed to Sweden to once again meet King Gustaf and then on to New York City for a special session of the UN General Assembly. Yudhoyono then met with a number of top CEOs from the US and later received an International Statesman award by the Appeal of Conscience Foundation. In that one day, he regained Indonesia’s international standing at the UN and also in the eyes of the international community.  In September, he toured Central Asia to secure energy cooperation with Kazakhstan and deepen Polish-Indonesian relations before venturing to Saint Petersburg. Concluding the year was a state visit to Japan: as in January, he called on Japan to continue its commitment to regional development, dialogue and peace. At home, the President and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono organized several state visits to Indonesia by the leaders of Argentina, Australia, Belarus, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Liberia, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russia, the Solomon Islands, the US, Vietnam, Timor Leste, as well as hosting other bilateral meetings on the sidelines of international summits.  These bilateral meetings not only empowered Indonesian stakeholders and business executives but also produced commitments to doubling Indonesia’s trade with Australia, Malaysia and Vietnam to at least US$50 billion by 2015.  On the environmental front, through meetings with Cristiano Ronaldo, Harrison Ford and Kimu Naidoo (from Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior 3), Yudhoyono encouraged deeper partnerships with NGOs in order to empower the country’s impoverished population.  Harmony among faiths improved on many fronts through dialogue, although many challenges continued to linger. With the exposure of the illegal surveillance reports, he underlined the need for countries to reestablish a new code of ethics to build trust and to refrain from engaging in Cold War-style spy games.  The year 2014 may not be as busy for diplomacy but, certainly, Indonesia stands in a better position on global affairs after 10 years of Yudhoyono’s administration. Now it is down to future leaders and especially the young generation to continue his legacy of summit diplomacy. ●