Jakarta Ready to be Voice of Moderation at Security Council
By: Avian E. Tumengkol
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will soon be Indonesia's new playground in the international arena of multilateral diplomacy and policy making, for the third time.
Indonesia's foreign policy agenda, how sporadic it may be, has reached the phase where hosting high profile events may well be put aside and more realize its presence in world diplomacy become a role model, is imminent.
It is profound, today, that Indonesia's strategic importance in Asia and strong key involvements in the region including ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), its membership of the OIC (Organization of the Islamic Conference) and its role on the founding of the NAM (Non-Alignment Movement), its size and population, and as the largest Muslim nation are assets of inventory possessed that predispose it to play a central role as a Middle Power nation.
With such assets, Indonesia is well-positioned, and equipped with the prerequisite essentials to help perfect the working methods of the Security Council, reform the irregularities of the UN system, and leverage approaches at all stages of the Security Council's decision-making processes, and eventually exert its influence to strengthen the legitimacy of the negotiation processes and decisions of the UNSC.
Membership in the Security Council, for Indonesia, should be used to promote the Council's active engagement in the process of negotiations aimed at securing a course of lasting peace and security in the Middle East region, particularly the simmering question of the occupied territory of the Palestinian State.
Long deploring the UN's lack of decisive action and political will to address the Palestinian problem, Indonesia should urge the Security Council to address any issues and resolutions that can be dealt with immediately as a matter of priority.
As such, will bring rapid relief to the plight of the populations in the conflict areas and hasten a responsive return to normality.
Indonesia has very good relations with the conflicting nations and with some major world actors, and should hope to exert a beneficial and neutral influence in the negotiation processes.
Membership of the OIC and NAM as two organizations with considerable membership and influence, and as a country which practices a moderate form of Islam makes Indonesia well-placed with a definite plus in the present troubled and unstable world context and in view of some countries' sensitivities.
Indonesia has always taken a firm stand on both regional and multilateral cooperation with transparent and non-politicized approaches to the handling of issues and conduct in all UN major bodies, including the Security Council.
The Preamble of the 1945 Constitution mandates that Indonesia actively participate in the maintenance of international peace and security, and this has been a fundamental principle in the conduct of our foreign policy.
The international geopolitical situation in the last few years has been tinted with the growing use or threat of force. Pre-emptive unilateral actions are eroding the painstakingly built paradigm of multilateralism. Discrimination and double standards are on the rise.
Pooled by well-respected diplomats at all levels, regions, and eras, led by Kleib, an expert in weapons and nuclear disarmament who brings the minister's Plan of Action, its conduct of diplomacy on the Security Council may well distinguish the transformation from a sporadic fashion into an independent fashion of Indonesia's foreign policy in world affairs.
Worry not a top U.S. envoy calling anti-Bush demonstrators and protesters glorified by the media, crazy and stupid. Indonesia's foreign policy agenda should remain, for once, on a concerted course.
A moderate voice promoting multilateralism and dialog should resonate inside the hallowed chambers and corridors of power of the Security Council, is therefore of the essence and imperative.
The author is a staff writer at The Jakarta Post and can be reached at avian@thejakartapost.com.
