"Indonesia is the middle power country right now meaning that we are in the moderate position between major powers; traditionally Indonesia does keep distance from major power and doesn`t let her self to be co-opted by one sides," Dewi Fortuna Anwar, the Vice President office`s Deputy for Political Affairs, said at seminar held by Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
The moderate position brings a revitalization of Indonesia`s classic free and active foreign policy doctrine. "A Thousand Friends, Zero Enemies" and the doctrine of "Dynamic Equilibrium" from Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa are the examples of Indonesia free and active foreign policy, she said
Dewi said Indonesia uses ASEAN as anchor for its wider engagement in the world. ASEAN without Indonesia also can`t make any favorable movements.
"That`s why ASEAN connectivity needs to be realized as soon as possible to make people from member countries know each other and to constrain future conflicts," she added.
Regarding the ASEAN Security Community, Dewi said that security condition in ASEAN is translated into two criteria, first no conflict among countries and second no conflict in the counties.
"It means that ASEAN should make sure the boundaries dispute could be solved peacefully and second, conflict between state and society should be diffused, there must be a political system to manage conflict in a country that is democracy system," she said.
But Dewi admits that Indonesia can`t put her policy to other ASEAN countries, otherwise the acts could be contra-productive to ASEAN itself, that`s put Indonesia to take a step by step policy.
Director of Institute of Asian Research University of British Columbia Canada Paul Evans said that Indonesia`s role as middle power means to stand distinctly between great powers in the region such as like China and the United State.
"The middle power country like Indonesia is trying to find the common ground between the major power in the region. Indonesia has many great diplomats and spirits from public to play moderation part, but it needs political leadership to be executed, the resources are here but the political leaders are the ones who make it possible," he said
He said that Indonesia has done constructive work as the ASEAN chairman. The challenges for Indonesia is to play the leadership in ASEAN after the chairmanship period.
Indonesia acts as ASEAN chairman for 2011 and bears the theme, "ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations" to enhance its collective contribution towards addressing various global issues. ***2***
(T.SDP-03/A/H-NG/10:23)
(T.sdp-03/B/F001/F001) 16-09-2011 10:53:49
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
