"We need to be a little more aggressive and display courage to be different from other countries," Gabriel Lele, a public policy observer from the University of Gadjah Mada, stated.
Indonesia needed to take an aggressive stance in international politics in view of the upcoming ASEAN Community implementation, because Indonesians are likely to face an open competition in various aspects with other member countries, he added.
Indonesia has the opportunity and potential to be aggressive and courageous considering the countrys abundant natural resource potential.
"Indonesia needs to follow a firm principle of negotiation that can help it take on a dominant role in the competition," Lele stated.
If Indonesia is able to present firm views and is unyielding before other countries, then its sovereignty in the international arena will be taken into account.
"Once Indonesia takes a firm stance, Indonesia will be taken into account," Lele reiterated.
Besides, Indonesias political principles of free and active also needed to be emphasized in every foreign policy, even if it was unlikely to be used.
"The Free and Active principals were used strategically during the cold war era, but now Indonesia must not be too neutral, and a firm principle is needed," Gabriel said.
The 2015 ASEAN Community will be based upon three pillars--political and security, economic, and social and cultural.
EDITED BY INE
(A050/KR-BSR/F001)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
