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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Indonesia’s foreign policy is shaped by various factors such as the nation’s history, its geographic conditions, its demography and its security and national interest. These factors prompted Indonesia to adopt independent and active foreign policy, as proposed in 1948 by Indonesia’s 1^st Vice President Mohammad Hatta on September 2, 1948 at Yogyakarta in Central Java. In a session of the Working Group of the Central National Committee of Indonesia (KNPI), the forerunner of the Indonesian Parliament, Vice-President Hatta, concurrently Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the young Republic clarified the Government's stand on various domestic and international issues.

Indonesia’s Independent and Active Foreign Policy is not about being “neutral“ or taking “equidistant” positions on international issues, nor is it a policy of “neglecting” or “ignoring” developments in world affairs.“Independent” means that Indonesia decides and determines its position on international affairs without external pressure or influence. “Active” means that Indonesia is committed to participating in constructive efforts that help build and maintain a just and peaceful world. The philosophy behind this principle is the mandate enunciated in Indonesia’s 1945 Constitution. Moreover, having been dominated by a colonial power for over 350 years, Indonesia inevitably adopted a foreign policy that is anti-colonialist.

The legal basis for the conduct of Indonesia’s foreign policy (from Department of Foreign Affairs’ Strategic Plan for the year 2004-2009):

1. Preamble and the body of the 1945 Constitution and its amendments;

2. Assessment of the People’s Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia No.XI/MPR/1998 Year    1998 on Implementation of a Country that is Clean and Free from Corruption, Collusion, and Nepotism;

3. Act No. 1 Year 1982 on Ratification of Vienna Convention about Diplomatic Relations and Consular Relations with its Optional Protocol about Act of Obtaining Citizenship;

4. Act No. 28 Year 1999 on Implementation of Country that is Clean and Free from Corruption, Collusion, and Nepotism;

5. Act No. 37 Year 1999 on Foreign Relations;

6. Act No. 24 Year 2000 on International Agreement;

7. Act No. 17 Year 2003 on State Financial;

8. Act No. 25 Year 2004 on National Development Planning System;

9. Presidential Decree No. 108 Year 2003 on The Organization of the Republic of Indonesia’s Diplomatic Mission Abroad;

10. Presidential Regulation No. 7 Year 2005 on the 2004-2009 National Mid-Term Development Plan;

11. Presidential Regulation No. 9 Year 2005 on Position, Duty, Function, Organizational Structure, and Work Procedure of the Republic of Indonesia’s State Ministry;

12. Presidential Regulation No. 10 Year 2005 on Organizational Unit and Duties of First Echelons of the Republic of Indonesia’s State Ministry;

13. Instruction of the President of the Republic of Indonesia No. 7 Year 1999 on Accountability of Government Institution’s Performance (Akuntabilitas Kinerja Instansi Pemerintah/AKIP);

14. Decree of the Minister of Foreign Affairs No. SK.05/A/OT/IV/2004/02 Year 2004 on Amendment on the Annex of the Decree of the Minister of Foreign Affairs No. SK.03/A/OT/XII/2002/02 Year 2002 on General Guidelines for the Implementation of Accountability of Government Institution’s Performance System (Sistem Akuntabilitas Kinerja Instansi Pemerintah/SAKIP) of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Republic of Indonesia’s Diplomatic Mission Abroad;

15. Decree of the Minister of Foreign Affairs No. SK.06/A/OT/VI/2004/01 Year 2004 on Organization and Work Procedure of the Republic of Indonesia’s Diplomatic Mission Abroad

 The adoption of the guidelines in Indonesian foreign policy was stipulated by provision of law, particularly Act No. 37/1999 on Foreign Relations and Act No. 24/2000 on Treaties.

Under the State’s Guideline for 1999-2004, Indonesia aims to achieve a strong foreign policy and diplomacy; develop foreign economic cooperation; implement broad extradition agreements; and engage in bilateral, regional and global/multilateral cooperation.

To reach these goals, the Department of Foreign Affairs laid down the following objectives: Restore Indonesia’s international image; help boost the economy and public welfare; help strengthen national unity, stability and integrity, and preserve the nation’s sovereignty; develop bilateral relations, particularly with countries that can support Indonesia’s trade and investment and economic recovery; as well as promote international cooperation that helps build and maintain world peace.

 To ensure that these goals are within reach, the emphasis on foreign relations is conceptualized within a series of concentric circles. The first of such concentric circles, which Indonesia considers a cornerstone of its foreign policy, is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) where Indonesia is one of the founding members of the organization. Just beyond that first circle, Indonesia likewise puts importance to promoting relations with its eastern and southern neighbors, prompting Indonesia to be engaged with the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), the Southwest Pacific Dialogue, and with the recently established Tripartite Consultation between Indonesia, Australia and Timor Leste.

 Also within the second concentric circle is the ASEAN + 3 (the three being Japan, China and South Korea). Beyond that, Indonesia puts a premium on its relations with the United States and the European Union, both of which are major economic partners of Indonesia.

 Indonesia has also been a strong supporter for inter regional cooperation, particularly through Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). Indonesia also gives importance to working with like-minded developing countries as reflected in its active involvement in the Non-aligned Movement (NAM), the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the Group of 77 (G-77) and the Group of 15 (G-15). Indonesia’s diplomacy also aims to solidify the collective effort of developing countries to bridge the gap between the developed and the developing countries (through NAM, OIC, G-15, G-77 and D-8). In addition, Indonesia remains supportive of the struggle of the people of Palestine toward the establishment of an independent Palestinian State within their own homeland.

At the global level, Indonesia hopes to strengthen multilateralism through the United Nations. Indonesia has consistently emphasized the central role of the UN in resolving issues on international peace and security. In line with the UN Charter, the issue of peace and security is a collective responsibility of all member states through the mechanism entrusted to and a mandate vested in the Security Council. Accordingly, Indonesia rejects all unilateral decisions taken outside the framework of the UN.