REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) says that Indonesia has established a foreign policy doctrine to cooperate in bilateral and multilateral programs in accordance with the national interest. "In this 21st century, Indonesia upholds the all-directions foreign policy, with a `million friends zero enemy` tagline. Indonesia has become a regional power by playing an important role in global responsibilities and interests. We are always actively strengthening cooperative relations with any country, in accordance with our national and common interests," the president said during a speech at a meeting with the ambassadors of friendly countries and international organization representatives at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Complex on Wednesday.
SBY says that political and international cooperation changes have also made Indonesia adapt an increasingly international role. While Indonesia also believes that national interests can be achieved while still maintaining a moral obligation as a part of the global community.
"The world`s state is currently full of dynamism and changes, we are still facing critical and fundamental issues. I think you could agree that global cooperation is needed to tackle global issues. We have the passion and energy, and with a global collaboration we could, together, build a safer, peaceful, and fairer world and could bring prosperity to all," he said.
International cooperation
Meanwhile, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marty Natalegawa, said in his speech that the Indonesian role continues to increase in international cooperation. Jakarta`s position as a diplomatic capital of the East Asia region is also becoming stronger. At present, there are 128 representatives of friendly countries and international organization in Jakarta.
"Representatives here are from various countries around the world, from Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe, Panama to Finland, and other foreign missions from developed to developing countries, from the islands to landlocked nations. There are also international organizations in various fields, such as the ASEAN Secretariat, UNDP, ILO and WHO that is based in Indonesia`s capital," Marty said.
This diversity reflects the multidimensional aspects of Indonesia`s foreign policy with various growing developments in Indonesia and ASEAN, as eventually Jakarta becomes the diplomatic capital in East Asia, Marty says.
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