Indonesian Foreign Minister, Marty M. Natalegawa, met with the ambassadors of European Union (EU) Countries led by the EU Ambassador in Jakarta, Julian Wilson, at Gedung Pancasila, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, today (6/01). At the meeting attended by 14 Ambassadors and 7 Deputy Ambassadors, Julian Wilson expressed the appreciation on the role of Indonesia in global level throughout 2011.
“The signing of 131 bilateral agreements in 2011 reflects an exceptional diplomacy performance,” said Julian.
He also stated that this meeting will form the coordination between Indonesia and the EU, which has been in the right track. This has to be done given the fact that both parties will ratify Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) and Joint Committee as the new mechanism of bilateral dialog.
Meanwhile, Marty hoped that the meeting with the EU Ambassadors can be institutionalized into regular meetings held for every 3 or 4 months.
“This is the right forum because on this occasion, we can present the information on our diplomacy achievement in 2011 and foreign policy projection for 2012,” said Marty.
Marty underlined the importance of establishing a connection in order to strengthen the RI-EU relations. Therefore, he stressed the importance of developing score-cards for relationships map in the EU countries which involve all EU countries representatives in Jakarta and Indonesia’s representative in European countries.
The Director for American and European Intra-Regional Cooperation, Dewi Mayangsari Kusumaastuti, said that the meeting between the Indonesian Foreign Minister and the Ambassadors of EU countries was to discuss several matters of mutual concerns.
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In connection with the discussed matters, Dewi stated that the meeting was focused on the bilateral relations between RI and the EU. “It will discuss the ways to improve the relationship and to make it more focused.”
The economy cooperation will be further increased. In addition, there should be continuity between the Indonesia’s bilateral relations with EU countries and Indonesia’s bilateral relations with the EU itself to make them more focused and more purposeful.
Regarding the financial crisis now engulfing European countries, Dewi said that Indonesia has not seen the impact on the bilateral relations. Indonesia hopes EU can overcome this crisis in order to avoid a more severe impact.
In addition to bilateral issues, the Indonesian Foreign Minister delivered a number of information particularly concerning the results of Indonesia’s chairmanship in ASEAN in 2011. The Minister also informed the Ambassadors of EU countries concerning the Indonesia’s view on the issues of mutual concern and issues in the region such as the issue of Iran, Myanmar and the Korean Peninsula.
During the meeting, the Minister was accompanied by Acting Director General for American and European Affairs, Ambassador Yuli Mumpuni and Ambassador Retno Marsudi.
Meanwhile, the 23 attending EU countries were Czech Republic, Bulgaria, France, Poland, Sweden, Italia, Finland, Cyprus, Slovenia, Romania, Denmark, Croatia, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal, Ireland, Spain, Hungary, England, the Netherlands, Hellenic Republic and EU.
According to the Directorate for American and European Intra-Regional Cooperation of the Foreign Ministry of Indonesia, EU is one of the major trade partners of Indonesia. The trade value between the two reached more than 26 billion dollar. In terms of investment, EU ranks the second largest.
Indonesia and the EU are currently in an undergoing process of ratifying Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA). Both parties are also in the middle of preparing the establishment of a Joint Committee as a new mechanism for bilateral dialog. The PCA and the Joint Committee are believed to be able to improve the bilateral relations between Indonesia and the EU. (source: Dit. KIK Amerop/Yo2k)