ID :
46267
Wed, 02/18/2009 - 17:45
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/46267
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LEGISLATOR WARNS GOVT AGAINST AMBIVALENCE IN TALKS WITH CLINTON
Jakarta, Feb 18 (ANTARA) - The government should have a clear agenda for its talks with visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and not be ambivalent in light of the existing US-China rivalry, a legislator said.
"Indonesia should have a comprehensive and clear agenda for its talks with the US secretary of state. Therefore, the government should not be ambivalent in its attitude in light of the rivalry between the United States and China in the security, political, and economic fields," Yusron Ihza Mahendra, vice chairman of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s Commision I, said here Wednesday.
He said ambivalence in the government's attitude could result in both the United States and China becoming suspicious of, and abandoning Indonesia.
"Clinton's first trip to four Asian countries: Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, and China since becoming US secretary of state is a clear indication that Asia is an important region in US foreign policy under President Barack Obama," Mahendra said.
He added that Clinton's decision to visit Indonesia on her maiden overses tour as secretary of state was a clear signal that President Barack Obama's administration would prioritize better relations with Jakarta.
"Over the past several decades Asia has become a gravitational area for the world's economic development. Asian regionalism has also undergone rapid development following the establishment of the Asian Regional Forum (ARF) and even resulted in the recent ratification of the ASEAN Charter," he said.
Mahendra said that as the largest ASEAN member country, Indonesia should have a strong bargaining position in facing every configuration in international diplomacy.
"But an ambivalent attitude will undo Indonesia's important position. Remember that a free and active foreign policy is not identical with neutrality," Mahandra, an associate chairman of the Crescent Star Party (PBB), said.
He noted that in the past, Indonesia was once close to Russia, then to the People's Republic of China (RRC), and later to the United States. "But the country's attitude now is not clear," he said.
"Indonesia should have a comprehensive and clear agenda for its talks with the US secretary of state. Therefore, the government should not be ambivalent in its attitude in light of the rivalry between the United States and China in the security, political, and economic fields," Yusron Ihza Mahendra, vice chairman of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s Commision I, said here Wednesday.
He said ambivalence in the government's attitude could result in both the United States and China becoming suspicious of, and abandoning Indonesia.
"Clinton's first trip to four Asian countries: Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, and China since becoming US secretary of state is a clear indication that Asia is an important region in US foreign policy under President Barack Obama," Mahendra said.
He added that Clinton's decision to visit Indonesia on her maiden overses tour as secretary of state was a clear signal that President Barack Obama's administration would prioritize better relations with Jakarta.
"Over the past several decades Asia has become a gravitational area for the world's economic development. Asian regionalism has also undergone rapid development following the establishment of the Asian Regional Forum (ARF) and even resulted in the recent ratification of the ASEAN Charter," he said.
Mahendra said that as the largest ASEAN member country, Indonesia should have a strong bargaining position in facing every configuration in international diplomacy.
"But an ambivalent attitude will undo Indonesia's important position. Remember that a free and active foreign policy is not identical with neutrality," Mahandra, an associate chairman of the Crescent Star Party (PBB), said.
He noted that in the past, Indonesia was once close to Russia, then to the People's Republic of China (RRC), and later to the United States. "But the country's attitude now is not clear," he said.
