RI’s reemergence through summit diplomacy

Andre Omer Siregar, Jakarta | Opinion | Thu, January 31 2013, 1:10 PM

Klipping The Jakarta Post

A- A A+

Paper Edition | Page: 7

Early in February, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will join UK Prime Minister David Cameron and Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in Monrovia, Liberia, in leading the third UN High-Level Panel Meeting for the Post 2015 Development Agenda discussions.

The discussions will continue in Bali in March, before a report is produced for the UN Secretary General in May, to serve as a basis for a new development agenda. Following the meeting in Africa, the President is expected to join the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit in Cairo to address the needs of the Ummah.

Later in 2013, he will join G20 leaders in St Petersburg to discuss economic inclusiveness and development at the premier forum for international economic cooperation.

At the regional level, Indonesia will host Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Bali, where leaders of the Asia Pacific will be encouraged to promote deeper and more inclusive cooperation to continue its role as the engine of world economic growth.

Also in 2013, Indonesia will continue its active role at the ASEAN Summit in Brunei Darussalam, in preparation for the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015, as well as a peace dialogue at the East Asia Summit (EAS).

Of course there are other events like the Bali Democracy forum and state visits where leaders hold tête–à–tête meetings not only to enhance bilateral relations, but to also address international issues.

In 2011 and 2012, Indonesia summitry was just as active: Chairing ASEAN in 2011, facilitating dialogue for Thai-Cambodian border disputes, voicing Timor Leste’s ASEAN membership, convincing the US
of Myanmar’s democratic process and finalizing the guidelines of the  Declaration of Conduct (DoC) for South China Sea (SCS) discourse at the EAS.

In 2012, Indonesia facilitated dialogue regarding the Muslims Rohingya case; the ASEAN six point principle for the SCS and a three point solution for Syria at the D8 Summit.

All of these activities indicate the trust and expectation of world leaders and the international community toward Indonesia’s role in fostering peace, justice and prosperity. A trust based not only on Indonesian diplomacy, but also President Yudhoyono’s chemistry with other world leaders.

The players have indeed changed since the summits began to proliferate after 1945. And although some international relations analysts suggest its effectiveness had waned by 2000 (due to meeting fatigue, lower risks of regional wars, higher costs and the demand for greater grassroots benefits), the global environment continues to change for the worst, both economically and in terms of security.

The Euro crisis and the stagnant US economy (still) have made affect the world economy; pockets of tension in East Asia and the continuing political dynamics in North Africa and the Middle East has led world leaders to a deadlock when producing solutions.

New emerging countries since the G20 Summit in 2008 have been tasked with new responsibilities, taking away the dominance of G7/8 forums. Indonesia, along with China, India, Brazil and South Africa are those new players at the global level. With business meetings at the sidelines of meetings, Summit diplomacy is now also quite attractive for private sector.

For Indonesia, this is a big leap after all it has been through since 1998. Back then Indonesia’s economy collapsed, there were the May riots in Jakarta and violence in Sambas and Timor Leste colored the international media and the minds of other world leaders and observers.

Today however, after the hard work by all Indonesians, the country is viewed by the world with greater esteem, after producing a peace deal in Aceh, reconciling with Timor Leste and its active role in the G20, ASEAN, APEC and EAS. Other factors such as a thriving democracy, the fourth largest population, a growing middle class, 6 percent economic growth and a US$36 trillion expected market growth for the next five years means the country is quite attractive.

Of course this doesn’t mean all problems are solved. As a developing country, Indonesia still suffers daunting development challenges and the recurring challenge of managing 250 million people from various ethnicities, spread over islands with test-case regional autonomy governance.

Although these challenges are real, the world still looks to Indonesia to address international problems, such as plotting a new global development agenda, preserving regional stability in Asia and especially producing a solution for Palestine.

With many new world leaders arising in Greater East Asia, some leaders are returning to the West and are some retiring, it is encouraging to see that Indonesia’s leadership has ensured its own reemergence in the history books of international affairs.

Whether we believe it or not, Indonesia is now one of those countries expected to bridge dialogue between leaders in the new Asia Pacific century.

That is one of Indonesia’s leadership legacies we can all be proud to admit to and call our own.

The writer is an assistant to presidential special staff. The views expressed are personal.