Giakarta. Governo indonesiano condanna fermamente l’attacco mortale ad Alessandria in Egitto, al 1 Gennaio 2011 che ha ucciso 21 vittime causando decine di feriti.

Governo indonesiano esprime la profonda simpatia e la più profonda condoglianza al governo egiziano, ai  cittadini egiziani e i loro parenti. Governo indonesiano sostiene il governo egiziano a portare gli attentatori alla giudizia.

L’attacco ad Alessandria si è chiaramente mostrato che il terrorismo rimane ancora come una minaccia agli umani ed occorre i controlli continuativi e collaborazione di tutte le parti e gli stati ad intervenire ogni azione del terrorismo ed estremismo.

Indonesia si impegna a collaborare con il governo egiziano ad arrivare al loro scopo di intervenire il terrorismo.

Fonte: Ministero degli Affari Esteri, Repubblica di Indonesia. 3 Gennaio 2011.

Press Statement of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia on the Terrorist Attacks in Alexandria, Egypt.

Jakarta. The Government of Indonesia strongly condemns the outrageous and inhumane terrorist attacks in Alexandria, Egypt, on 1st of January 2011, that caused 21 deaths and injured dozens of innocent people.

The Government of Indonesia conveys its deepest sympathy and condolences to the Government and People of Egypt and the victims along with their bereaved families. The Government of Indonesia supports the efforts of the Government of Egypt to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The attacks in Alexandria clearly show that the terrorism remains a threat to all humankind and require continuous vigilance and cooperation amongst all parties and nations to overcome all acts of terrorism and extremism.

Indonesia is committed to work with the Government of Egypt in our common endeavour to overcome terrorism.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Indonesia. 3 January 2011.

Photo: Associated Press


THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

Thank you for this wonderful welcome. Thank you to the people of Jakarta. And thank you to the people of Indonesia.

I am so glad that I made it to Indonesia, and that Michelle was able to join me. We had a couple of false starts this year, but I was determined to visit a country that has meant so much to me. Unfortunately, it’s a fairly quick visit, but I look forward to coming back a year from now, when Indonesia hosts the East Asia Summit.

Before I go any further, I want to say that our thoughts and prayers are with all of those Indonesians affected by the recent tsunami and volcanic eruptions – particularly those who have lost loved ones, and those who have been displaced. As always, the United States stands with Indonesia in responding to this natural disaster, and we are pleased to be able to help as needed. As neighbors help neighbors and families take in the displaced, I know that the strength and resilience of the Indonesian people will pull you through once more.

Let me begin with a simple statement: Indonesia is a part of me. I first came to this country when my mother married an Indonesian man named Lolo Soetoro. As a young boy, I was coming to a different world. But the people of Indonesia quickly made me feel at home.

Jakarta looked very different in those days. The city was filled with buildings that were no more than a few stories tall. The Hotel Indonesia was one of the few high rises, and there was just one brand new shopping center called Sarinah. Betchaks outnumbered automobiles in those days, and the highway quickly gave way to unpaved roads and kampongs.

We moved to Menteng Dalam, where we lived in a small house with a mango tree out front. I learned to love Indonesia while flying kites, running along paddy fields, catching dragonflies, and buying satay and baso from the street vendors. Most of all, I remember the people – the old men and women who welcomed us with smiles; the children who made a foreigner feel like a neighbor; and the teachers who helped me learn about the wider world.

Because Indonesia is made up of thousands of islands, hundreds of languages, and people from scores of regions and ethnic groups, my times here helped me appreciate the common humanity of all people. And while my stepfather, like most Indonesians, was raised a Muslim, he firmly believed that all religions were worthy of respect. In this way, he reflected the spirit of religious tolerance that is enshrined in Indonesia’s Constitution, and that remains one of this country’s defining and inspiring characteristics.

I stayed here for four years – a time that helped shape my childhood; a time that saw the birth of my wonderful sister, Maya; and a time that made such an impression on my mother that she kept returning to Indonesia over the next twenty years to live, work and travel – pursuing her passion of promoting opportunity in Indonesia’s villages, particularly for women and girls. For her entire life, my mother held this place and its people close to her heart.

So much has changed in the four decades since I boarded a plane to move back to Hawaii. If you asked me – or any of my schoolmates who knew me back then – I don’t think any of us could have anticipated that I would one day come back to Jakarta as President of the United States. And few could have anticipated the remarkable story of Indonesia over these last four decades.

The Jakarta that I once knew has grown to a teeming city of nearly ten million, with skyscrapers that dwarf the Hotel Indonesia, and thriving centers of culture and commerce. While my Indonesian friends and I used to run in fields with water buffalo and goats, a new generation of Indonesians is among the most wired in the world – connected through cell phones and social networks. And while Indonesia as a young nation focused inward, a growing Indonesia now plays a key role in the Asia Pacific and the global economy.

This change extends to politics. When my step-father was a boy, he watched his own father and older brother leave home to fight and die in the struggle for Indonesian independence. I’m happy to be here on Heroes Day to honor the memory of so many Indonesians who have sacrificed on behalf of this great country.

In the years since then, Indonesia has charted its own course through an extraordinary democratic transformation – from the rule of an iron fist to the rule of the people. In recent years, the world has watched with hope and admiration, as Indonesians embraced the peaceful transfer of power and the direct election of leaders. And just as your democracy is symbolized by your elected President and legislature, your democracy is sustained and fortified by its checks and balances: a dynamic civil society; political parties and unions; a vibrant media and engaged citizens who have ensured that – in Indonesia — there will be no turning back.

But even as this land of my youth has changed in so many ways, those things that I learned to love about Indonesia – that spirit of tolerance that is written into your Constitution; symbolized in your mosques and churches and temples; and embodied in your people – still lives on. Bhinneka Tunggal Ika – unity in diversity. This is the foundation of Indonesia’s example to the world, and this is why Indonesia will play such an important role in the 21^st century.

So today, I return to Indonesia as a friend, but also as a President who seeks a deep and enduring partnership between our two countries. Because as vast and diverse countries; as neighbors on either side of the Pacific; and above all as democracies – the United States and Indonesia are bound together by shared interests and shared values.

Yesterday, President Yudhoyono and I announced a new, Comprehensive Partnership between the United States and Indonesia. We are increasing ties between our governments in many different areas, and – just as importantly – we are increasing ties among our people. This is a partnership of equals, grounded in mutual interests and mutual respect.

With the rest of my time today, I’d like to talk about why the story I just told – the story of Indonesia since the days when I lived here – is so important to the United States, and to the world. I will focus on three areas that are closely related, and fundamental to human progress – development, democracy, and religion.

First, the friendship between the United States and Indonesia can advance our mutual interest in development.

When I moved to Indonesia, it would have been hard to imagine a future in which the prosperity of families in Chicago and Jakarta would be connected. But our economies are now global, and Indonesians have experienced both the promise and perils of globalization: from the shock of the Asian financial crisis in the 1990s to the millions lifted out of poverty. What that means – and what we learned in the recent economic crisis – is that we have a stake in each other’s success.

America has a stake in an Indonesia that is growing, with prosperity that is broadly shared among the Indonesian people – because a rising middle class here means new markets for our goods, just as America is a market for yours. And so we are investing more in Indonesia, our exports have grown by nearly 50 percent, and we are opening doors for Americans and Indonesians to do business with one another.

America has a stake in an Indonesia that plays its rightful role in shaping the global economy. Gone are the days when seven or eight countries could come together to determine the direction of global markets. That is why the G-20 is now the center of international economic cooperation, so that emerging economies like Indonesia have a greater voice and bear greater responsibility. And through its leadership of the G-20’s anti-corruption group, Indonesia should lead on the world stage and by example in embracing transparency and accountability.

Above all, America has a stake in the success of the Indonesian people. Underneath the headlines of the day, we must build bridges between our peoples, because our future security and prosperity is shared. That is exactly what we are doing – by increased collaboration among our scientists and researchers, and by working together to foster entrepreneurship. And I am especially pleased that we have committed to double the number of American and Indonesian students studying in our respective countries – we want more Indonesian students in our schools, and more American students to come study in this country, so that we can forge new ties that last well into this young century.

These are the issues that really matter in our daily lives. Development, after all, is not simply about growth rates and numbers on a balance sheet. It’s about whether a child can learn the skills they need to make it in a changing world. It’s about whether a good idea is allowed to grow into a business, and not be suffocated by corruption. It’s about whether those forces that have transformed the Jakarta that I once knew –technology and trade and the flow of people and goods – translate into a better life for human beings, a life marked by dignity and opportunity.

This kind of development is inseparable from the role of democracy.

Today, we sometimes hear that democracy stands in the way of economic progress. This is not a new argument. Particularly in times of change and economic uncertainty, some will say that it is easier to take a shortcut to development by trading away the rights of human beings for the power of the state. But that is not what I saw on my trip to India, and that is not what I see in Indonesia. Your achievements demonstrate that democracy and development reinforce one another.

Like any democracy, you have known setbacks along the way. America is no different. Our own Constitution spoke of the effort to forge a “more perfect union,” and that is a journey we have travelled ever since, enduring Civil War and struggles to extend rights to all of our citizens. But it is precisely this effort that has allowed us to become stronger and more prosperous, while also becoming a more just and free society.

Like other countries that emerged from colonial rule in the last century, Indonesia struggled and sacrificed for the right to determine your destiny. That is what Heroes Day is all about – an Indonesia that belongs to Indonesians. But you also ultimately decided that freedom cannot mean replacing the strong hand of a colonizer with a strongman of your own.

Of course, democracy is messy. Not everyone likes the results of every election. You go through ups and downs. But the journey is worthwhile, and it goes beyond casting a ballot. It takes strong institutions to check the concentration of power. It takes open markets that allow individuals to thrive. It takes a free press and an independent justice system to root out abuse and excess, and to insist upon accountability. It takes open society and active citizens to reject inequality and injustice.

These are the forces that will propel Indonesia forward. And it will require a refusal to tolerate the corruption that stands in the way of opportunity; a commitment to transparency that gives every Indonesian a stake in their government; and a belief that the freedom that Indonesians have fought for is what holds this great nation together.

That is the message of the Indonesians who have advanced this democratic story – from those who fought in the Battle of Surabaya 55 years ago today; to the students who marched peacefully for democracy in the 1990s, to leaders who have embraced the peaceful transition of power in this young century. Because ultimately, it will be the rights of citizens that will stitch together this remarkable Nusantara that stretches from Sabang to Merauke – an insistence that every child born in this country should be treated equally, whether they come from Java or Aceh; Bali or Papua.

That effort extends to the example that Indonesia sets abroad. Indonesia took the initiative to establish the Bali Democracy Forum, an open forum for countries to share their experiences and best practices in fostering democracy. Indonesia has also been at the forefront of pushing for more attention to human rights within ASEAN.  The nations of Southeast Asia must have the right to determine their own destiny, and the United States will strongly support that right. But the people of Southeast Asia must have the right to determine their own destiny as well. That is why we condemned elections in Burma that were neither free nor fair. That is why we are supporting your vibrant civil society in working with counterparts across this region. Because there is no reason why respect for human rights should stop at the border of any country.

Hand in hand, that is what development and democracy are about – the notion that certain values are universal. Prosperity without freedom is just another form of poverty. Because there are aspirations that human beings share – the liberty of knowing that your leader is accountable to you, and that you won’t be locked up for disagreeing with them; the opportunity to get an education and to work with dignity; the freedom to practice your faith without fear or restriction.

Religion is the final topic that I want to address today, and – like democracy and development – it is fundamental to the Indonesian story.

Like the other Asian nations that I am visiting on this trip, Indonesia is steeped in spirituality – a place where people worship God in many different ways.  Along with this rich diversity, it is also home to the world’s largest Muslim population – a truth that I came to know as a boy when I heard the call to prayer across Jakarta.

Just as individuals are not defined solely by their faith, Indonesia is defined by more than its Muslim population. But we also know that relations between the United States and Muslim communities have frayed over many years. As President, I have made it a priority to begin to repair these relations. As a part of that effort, I went to Cairo last June, and called for a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world – one that creates a path for us to move beyond our differences.

I said then, and I will repeat now, that no single speech can eradicate years of mistrust. But I believed then, and I believe today, that we have a choice. We can choose to be defined by our differences, and give in to a future of suspicion and mistrust. Or we can choose to do the hard work of forging common ground, and commit ourselves to the steady pursuit of progress. And I can promise you – no matter what setbacks may come, the United States is committed to human progress. That is who we are. That is what we have done. That is what we will do.

We know well the issues that have caused tensions for many years – issues that I addressed in Cairo. In the 17 months that have passed we have made some progress, but much more work remains to be done.

Innocent civilians in America, Indonesia, and across the world are still targeted by violent extremists. I have made it clear that America is not, and never will be, at war with Islam. Instead, all of us must defeat al Qaeda and its affiliates, who have no claim to be leaders of any religion – certainly not a great, world religion like Islam. But those who want to build must not cede ground to terrorists who seek to destroy. This is not a task for America alone. Indeed, here in Indonesia, you have made progress in rooting out terrorists and combating violent extremism.

In Afghanistan, we continue to work with a coalition of nations to build the capacity of the Afghan government to secure its future. Our shared interest is in building peace in a war-torn land – a peace that provides no safe-haven for violent extremists, and that provides hope for the Afghan people.

Meanwhile, we have made progress on one of our core commitments – our effort to end the war in Iraq. 100,000 American troops have left Iraq. Iraqis have taken full responsibility for their security. And we will continue to support Iraq as it forms an inclusive government and we bring all of our troops home.

In the Middle East, we have faced false starts and setbacks, but we have been persistent in our pursuit of peace. Israelis and Palestinians restarted direct talks, but enormous obstacles remain. There should be no illusions that peace and security will come easy. But let there be no doubt: we will spare no effort in working for the outcome that is just, and that is in the interest of all the parties involved: two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.

The stakes are high in resolving these issues, and the others I have spoken about today. For our world has grown smaller and while those forces that connect us have unleashed opportunity, they also empower those who seek to derail progress. One bomb in a marketplace can obliterate the bustle of daily commerce. One whispered rumor can obscure the truth, and set off violence between communities that once lived in peace. In an age of rapid change and colliding cultures, what we share as human beings can be lost.

But I believe that the history of both America and Indonesia gives us hope. It’s a story written into our national mottos. E pluribus unum – out of many, one. Bhinneka Tunggal Ika – unity in diversity. We are two nations, which have travelled different paths. Yet our nations show that hundreds of millions who hold different beliefs can be united in freedom under one flag. And we are now building on that shared humanity – through the young people who will study in each other’s schools; through the entrepreneurs forging ties that can lead to prosperity; and through our embrace of fundamental democratic values and human aspirations..

Earlier today, I visited the Istiqlal mosque – a place of worship that was still under construction when I lived in Jakarta. I admired its soaring minaret, imposing dome, and welcoming space. But its name and history also speak to what makes Indonesia great. Istiqlal means independence, and its construction was in part a testament to the nation’s struggle for freedom. Moreover, this house of worship for many thousands of Muslims was designed by a Christian architect.

Such is Indonesia’s spirit. Such is the message of Indonesia’s inclusive philosophy, Pancasila. Across an archipelago that contains some of God’s most beautiful creations, islands rising above an ocean named for peace, people choose to worship God as they please. Islam flourishes, but so do other faiths. Development is strengthened by an emerging democracy. Ancient traditions endure, even as a rising power is on the move.

That is not to say that Indonesia is without imperfections. No country is. But here can be found the ability to bridge divides of race and region and religion – that ability to see yourself in all individuals. As a child of a different race coming from a distant country, I found this spirit in the greeting that I received upon moving here: Selamat Datang. As a Christian visiting a mosque on this visit, I found it in the words of a leader who was asked about my visit and said, “Muslims are also allowed in churches. We are all God’s followers.”

That spark of the divine lies within each of us. We cannot give in to doubt or cynicism or despair. The stories of Indonesia and America tell us that history is on the side of human progress; that unity is more powerful than division; and that the people of this world can live together in peace. May our two nations work together, with faith and determination, to share these truths with all mankind.

Source: The Wall Street Journal – 10 November 2010
Photo: Reuters

Assalamualaikum Warahmatulahi Wabarakatuh.

KLCC, KUALA LUMPUR, MAY 19th 2010

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim,
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Peace be upon us,

Your Excellency, Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia,
Your Excellency, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, of Brunei Darussalam,
Your Excellency, Abdoulaye Wade, President of the Republic of Senegal,
Your Excellency, Mohamed Nasheed, President of the Republic of Maldives,
Your Excelllency, Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh,
Your Excellency, Dr. Fatmir Sejdiu,
Your Excellency Tun Musa Hitam, Chairman of the World Islamic Economic Forum,

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
When this Forum met in Jakarta last year, our mood was subdued. The world was in the midst of a global financial crisis, affecting the welfare of the Ummah.

The oil exporters among us saw their incomes decline as demand dwindled. The commodity exporters among us saw our traditional markets—in Europe, the United States and Japan—shrink, and those without sizeable domestic markets had nothing with which, to cushion the impact of that loss of income. Jobs were evaporating by the millions as factories closed down.
On top of that, we faced the interlinked crises of food security, energy security and climate change.

Fortunately, the economies of the world were able to withstand the worst effects of these crises and avoid the worst scenario of a meltdown. We took early and vigorous countercyclical measures, and steps to stimulate the real economies.

That financial crisis was a loud wake-up call for us, to address the economic imbalances between nations and within nations. It compelled us to work harder, to achieve the kind of growth that is sustainable, inclusive and equitable. In that manner, we put ourselves in a better position to ensure social and political stability.

At the same time, the world community turned the crisis into an opportunity. We began to reform the international financial architecture, and to design a more equitable global economic decision-making process.

As a result, the developing world, through the emerging economies, are increasing their participa-tion in the decision-making processes of internatio-nal financial institution, including in the G-20.

But beyond economic considerations, the G-20 represents the world in more significant ways. The G-20 engages all the major civilizations in positive and constructive interaction. The Western industrialized countries are there, of course. So are the countries that represent the great Oriental civilizations and the civilization of Africa. And the Islamic World is there—through Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Indonesia. This is unprecedented. It is a clear acknowledgement of the importance of the Ummah. It is also a demanding responsibility.

But Islam also teaches us, that we should strive for the good of humankind as a whole.

For today, we have much greater opportunity to once again contribute to human progress and enlightenment. And more than ever before, the world today, learning from mistakes of the past, is open to new ideas, on how to deal with the painful realities of our time.

But no global framework can save humankind from its own excesses, if it is not founded on the right values. Like the values of equitability, inclusive-ness, compassion for the less fortunate, social justice, and the wise restraints on human greed.

Make no mistakes: these are Islamic values! They form the hallmark of every transaction in which any true Muslim is involved.
Our concrete expression of these values in the economic field is Islamic banking and finance, which is vastly different from traditional banking and finance, because, it has a moral basis and a mission of social justice. No wonder, then, that in the wake of the global economic and financial crisis, we see a rise in the reputation of Islamic banking and finance.

Consider this: although Muslims comprise 23 percent of humankind, or 1.6 billion out of the world’s 6.8 billion population human beings, Islamic finance accounts for only one half of one percent of all financial assets in the world. But it is fast growing. And it is growing not only in the Islamic world. London is a service centre for Islamic finance. Investors in Islamic financial products are growing in number in China and the United States.

Last year, with the financial crisis still simmering, investor confidence surged in the Sukuk market, resulting in sales totalling US$ 17.3 billion by November. Islamic banking assets rose by almost 29 percent to US$ 822 billion, compared to a 6.8 percent growth in traditional banking assets. Indonesia is proud to be part of that growth, with its US$ 650 million denominated Sukuk Ijarah being hailed as a ground-breaking event during the period.

Simply put, Muslim nations now have a good opportunity to achieve greater growth.

But we must overcome the impediments to investing in one another’s economy—by making our economies attractive to all investors. We should strive to attract all kinds of investors—Muslims and non-Muslims.

That means maintaining an efficient network of roads, railways, airports, seaports and communication systems, with sufficient power supply. That means raising a skilled and educated, disciplined and productive labour force. And finally it means trustworthy government officials and corporate leaders.

All these are easier said than done: we in Indonesia know that only too well. We have been working hard at these for the past twelve years, and it has been an uphill struggle.

But we have covered a lot of ground. We have opened new fields of investment, and provided generous incentives. We continue to mobilize resources, for a massive infrastructure building programme. We have identified the problems of our education system, and we are fixing them.

We are improving conditions on labour-management relations. And we are pursuing what is said to be the most aggressive campaign against corruption in our modern history.

Like many emerging economies and muslim societies, Indonesia too is fast becoming a sea of opportunity. We are a large market of 230 million, with sizeable and growing middle-class, a growing economy, enormous natural resources, political stability, and dynamic open society. We are proud of our heritage, and confident of our future.

I invite all our friends here and beyond, to be our partners in exploiting various economic opportunities : in energy, mines, food, infrastructure, industry, agriculture, and many more.

We all know that investors will beat a path to your door, if you make sure that you earn their trust—regardless of whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims.

I therefore believe it is time that Muslims everywhere rediscover the age-old secret of progress: entrepreneurship. This is one of the most powerful forces, that will change the fate of the Ummah in the 21st century.

If every Islamic economy can make entrepreneurs of five percent of its population, the Islamic world will experience enormous economic and social growth. We will also be emulating the example of our great Prophet Muhammad SAW, himself an entrepreneur—an honest and conscientious entrepreneur. In his example lies the key to our future as Ummah.

That golden age when Islam was the dominant force in the world will never come back. We live in a different time now. But we can have something better. We can have an Islamic world that is once again a meritocracy in which entrepreneurship, and the pursuit of knowledge and innovation are encouraged and rewarded.

Each Muslim nation has its own strength and unique capability. The Middle East have their petrodollars. Indonesia has its vast natural resources. Malaysia has an agribusiness-based industrializing economy. All of us have resources to contribute. We can pool these together and achieve synergy. And prosper together.

For that to be possible, we must build real and total connectivity. That means not only physical infrastructures that enable us to communicate and work with one another. It also means connectivity in terms of ideas and attitudes, in terms of goodwill and a willingness to help one another. It means connectivity in terms of common challenges and a shared future.

In such a world, the Ummah will rise and fulfil its potential—and so will all the other civilizations. Then Islam will contribute to the shaping of a better world, alongside all the other civilizations. We will be ever closer to harmony among civilizations. And thus humankind will become more pleasing in the eyes of Allah.

I thank you.
Wassalaamu’alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

Source: Presidential Palace

SPEECH BY
H.E. DR. H. SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA
Before the Parliament of Turkey

Ankara, June 2010

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim
Assalamu’alaikum Wr. Wb.
Mr. Speaker,
Madame Deputy Speaker,
Honourable and Distinguished Members of this August Chamber,

Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great honor for me, to address the distinguished members of the Turkish Parliament this morning.

Standing here before you, I cannot but be overwhelmed by the historic significance of this institution. In Islamic history, Turkey is widely known to be the first country to adopt the Parliamentary system in 1876. The Turkish Parliament, and the elected members in it, are the backbone of your democracy, the embodiment of the people’s sovereignty. In this august forum, in this historic building,

I can feel the heartbeat of the great nation of Turkey.

I have come to Turkey to show my deepest respect to the Turkish nation, and to deepen and broaden relations between our countries.

I bring with me a large delegation of Ministers, Parliamentarians, officials, businessmen, and journalists. But more importantly, I bring with me the warm greetings, the friendship and goodwill of 235 million Indonesians.

In the short time that we have been here, we all have been enamored by the beauty of your country, the warmth of your people and the progress of your society.

Turkey and Indonesia have always been great friends. This year, we celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations, which is part of the reason that I am here today. But our relations actually date CENTURIES BEFORE the modern international system began.

It is known that the court of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent had developed a relationship with the sultanate, that is now the Indonesian province of Aceh, a deep relationship that covered the politico- security, economic and socio-cultural fields.

That intensive friendship helped Aceh, then known as Samudra-Pasai, resist colonial incursion for many years. As a former general, I am thrilled by the fact that there was once an Ottoman military academy in Aceh, that produced among our people some highly skilled freedom fighters. One of them was a woman admiral, who fought a fierce naval battle against Western forces in the Strait of Malacca.

An interesting legacy of that friendship is that, in Aceh there are so many individuals with decidedly Middle Eastern features. These are the descendants of Ottoman experts, in the manufacture of cannons and other weapons. They were sent over to help fight the colonizers, then decided to stay. Thus, they became part of the Indonesian nation.

Today a mosque and a housing project in Aceh province proudly bears the Crescent and Star emblem of Turkey—for these were built with Turkish funds to help rehabilitate the communities devastated by the tsunami, that killed some 150,000 Indonesians in December 2004. We are forever grateful for all that the Turkish Government and people have done, to help Indonesia in times of natural disaster.

Turkey, therefore, has long been related to our history, our culture, our struggle for freedom, and our nation-building.

In that struggle both Turkey and Indonesia had our moments of glory and despair.

Indonesia was colonized for centuries by successive Western powers. The Ottoman Empire, once the world’s mightiest empire, suffered defeat, crumbled and broke into parts.

But in the 20th century both Indonesia and Turkey experienced a national reawakening: we discovered and embraced nationalism, and adopted modern political concepts – democracy, elections, rule of law, constitutional government, Republican-ism. The Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923, and the Republic of Indonesia proclaimed inde- pendence in 1945.

Today, both Turkey and Indonesia are nations transformed.

Turkey is a pivotal player in its region and a strong global player. It is a modern democracy with a dynamic economy, that is driven largely by the attitudes and skills of its people, and not just by the exploitation of its natural resources. It is an industrializing economy with a strong agricultural base—the best combination any country can have. And Turkey serves as a bridge between Asia, particularly the Middle East and Europe, between the West and the world of Islam. It enjoys the best of both worlds.

On the other hand, Indonesia is now the world’s third largest democracy, and the country with the largest Muslim population. We are the largest nation with the largest economy in Southeast Asia. Our democracy is stable, vibrant and dynamic; our people adhere to pluralism and practice tolerance, and our nation is more united than ever.

Indonesia is a founding member of ASEAN, which is a dynamic Community, and widely regarded as one of the world’s most successful regional organizations.

Like Turkey, Indonesia is an active member of the G-20, the world’s premier forum for international economic decision-making.
Considering what we have become as history has made us, the question is: what now? How should Turkey and Indonesia relate to each other in the 21st century?

We must now define the shape and substance of our relationship, in the context of the critical time we live in. Our two countries must now develop relations that draw upon our wealth of assets and unique qualities, in order to meet the challenges of our time.
The power of numbers is behind us: the populations of Turkey and Indonesia combined make a total 310 million. We have a combined GDP Purchasing Power Parity of USD 1.833 trillion.

And our combined natural resources are enormous. On top of this, we have the dynamism of our peoples, and the diplomatic weight and influence that we carry in the community of nations.

With all this, there is much that we can do and achieve together. That is why our two countries have begun to cooperate closely in the politico-security field, in economic development, trade and investment, and tourism.

Today, we concluded a military and defence industry cooperation agreement.

We achieved a bilateral trade totalling USD 2 billion by the end of 2008. Today, we are targeting an annual trade value of USD 5 billion. I am confident that we will surpass that too, since it is modest target and does not reflect the true potential of our economies.

We are strengthening our cooperation in the field of education. I look forward to intensive technical cooperation to increase both countries’ competitiveness. This will include training programmes on market access and standards conformance, and exchanges of lecturers, trainers and students.

We appreciate very much the plan of the Turkish Government to establish a regional office of the Turkish International Cooperation Agency in Jakarta. This is just the right time to do that: Indonesia has just opened its doors wider to international development cooperation. And we intend to initiate a process to establish a Consulate in Istambul.

Our respective ministers are working hard, to strengthen our investment cooperation in the fields of manufacturing, infrastructures building, mining, energy— especially renewable energy—and services.

Indonesia holds 40 percent of the world’s geothermal resources, and we are using only 4.2 percent of what we have. This is an investment opportunity for Turkey, which has the technology for harnessing this form of energy.

I have instructed my relevant ministers to explore further cooperation with Turkey in the mining sector. Their task is to make a match-up between our mineral resources and the industrial needs of Turkey.

And with the signing of an MoU on programme exchange between our state television stations, we are hoping for a productive collaboration in the social education of our peoples. We in Indonesia know that Turkish television has become a tremendous cultural influence, in the entire Middle East and parts of southern Europe. Since our own screenwriters are also giving a modern treatment to Muslim storylines and themes, both sides can learn from each other.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
On the whole, our bilateral cooperation has made a great beginning. But I also know that we can do much better than we are doing now. I look forward to rapid and significant growth in our cooperation. This includes cooperation in addressing the global challenges of our time, that Turkey and Indonesia must help resolve.

Let me highlight five areas where the partnership between Turkey and Indonesia need to be expanded and synergized. These are: reforming the world economy, advancing harmony among civilizations, promoting democracy, resolving conflicts, and dealing with pressing global issues.

Let us start with the world economy : we know that its centre of gravity is shifting—from the developed to the developing world. That is why the G-20 had to be established. The G-7 can no longer save themselves, least of all the rest of humankind, from the global economic and financial crisis. The developing world, particularly the emerging economies, must be called upon to be part of the solution, and therefore must be given greater say in the world economic decision-making.

We must now get used to living in the G-20 world. It is a new era, a different era. Turkey and Indonesia have new responsibilities and a new role to play.

Thus I had the privilege of working with Prime Minister Erdogan, at the latest G-20 Summit in Toronto. In that meeting, the world’s largest economies decided on measures to firm up the recovery, from the economic and financial crisis of 2008 and 2009. In doing so, we struck a balance between the need of some countries for fiscal consolidation, and the need of others for more fiscal stimulus.

Turkey and Indonesia are playing a constructive role in the G-20: we are pushing for the reform of the international financial institutions. We have success-fully advocated for a judicious balance, between financial consolidation and sustaining the economic stimulus, so that the global economic recovery will be more durable. We have seen to it that financial flows for development to the least developed countries are maintained.

We must help sustain the momentum for the cause of reform and development within the G-20. We must see to it that nations keep their commitment to open trade and not revert to protectionism. We must keep on enhancing multilateral institutions, that play a vital role in development and in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. We must help see to it that all the constructive measures we agreed upon in Toronto are reported as fulfilled, when we meet again Seoul next November.
In the recent global financial crisis, some of the emerging economies proved their resilience by bouncing back quicker than most others, and became the engine of global recovery.

Indonesia was fortunate to register economic growth of four and a half percent in 2009, the third highest in Asia after China and India.

Our challenge here is, to ensure that the G-20 world will be able to deliver the benefits that we have always sought, in a manner that is equitable and inclusive.

This means the G20 world must be able to spread prosperity and economic democracy throughout the world. It must be able to narrow the development gap, between the advanced countries and the developing and least developing countries. It must be able to help the community of nations reach the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 and beyond. And hopefully, it will enable humanity to reach a situation of zero poverty, by the end of the 21st Century.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The second area where Indonesia and Turkey can work together is in the promotion of democracy.

One of the most significant developments in the 20th century is, the spread of democracy throughout the world. In 1974 there were 40 democracies. In 2009, there were 119. The world has never seen so many democracies. Turkey and Indonesia have been part of that global trend.

Turkey is a pioneer in democratization, having elected the first parliament about a century and a half ago. Indonesia is the last country to join the Third Wave of democracies in the 20th century, doing so in 1999.

Both Turkey and Indonesia have developed our own homegrown democracies, driven by our own circumstances, through a difficult process of trial and error. But in the end, we each evolved a vibrant democracy where the people have full ownership: no one can say that our democracy is imposed from the outside.

Both Turkey and Indonesia have a stake in promoting democracy around the world. I believe, however, that we are NOT in the business of exporting democracy . What we can do is to lead by the power of our example—by proving that democracy can bring about good governance, and that democracy can deliver the benefits of socio- economic development. Our strongest message for democracy can be conveyed only by our performance.

Of course, sincere dialogue and exchange of experiences will greatly help. That is why Indonesia organized in 2008 the Bali Democracy Forum—the only intergovernmental forum for exchange of expe- riences and best practices on political development in the Asian region. In this process, there is no finger pointing or criticizing. Nobody plays the role of teacher or preacher. But we do learn from one another’s successes and acknowledged mistakes. And if what we learn is applicable to our individual situations, then the process has made a valuable contribution.

In this regard, we in Turkey and Indonesia have put to rest the theory that democracy and development are not compatible. There was once a notion that developing countries must chose, either to have high economic growth but with less democracy, or more democracy but with less economic growth. In our experience, it turned out that we do not have to choose between democracy and development. Indeed, Indonesia’s democratic transition in the last 12 years has demonstrated that we can achieve BOTH democracy and economic growth – and more importantly, we achieve both at the same time.

The third area where we can make a difference is in promoting harmony among civilizations. Humankind had never experienced a time, when all civilizations coexisted in peace. However, the clash of civilizations of the past need not be our future. I believe that the 21st century CAN be an era marked by a confluence of civilizations, particularly as we witness the emergence of a global conscience and the growing trends of multiculturalism across the world.

Turkey and Indonesia can do much to foster this trend. We can do this because we are both nations of peacefull, tolerance and dynamic Muslims, that value openness, pluralism and tolerance. We both can play a bridging role between the world of Islam and the West. And we both can serve as counterfoil to extremism all over the world.

In the case of Indonesia, we have always been a great believer in dialogue. The only way we can manage our own diversity of faiths and ethnic cultures, is through a process of consultation toward consensus.

Hence, we have organized interfaith and intercultural dialogues, in tandem with other governments, international organizations, civil society and the mass media.

We are actively involved in the dialogue within the Alliance of Civilizations under the aegis of the United Nations, a worthy undertaking, of which Turkey was an initiator. I look forward to Turkey and Indonesia collaborating to organize an inter-regional dialogue among faiths and civilizations. And I look forward to the involvement of all the members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in such a dialogue—in the spirit of the Makkah Declaration.

The fourth area of our cooperation is in conflict resolution. It is true that the number of conflicts around the world has been reduced—but there are still too many of them. Most persistent is the conflict in Palestine, which has led to a humanitarian tragedy. This is a powder keg, that can explode any time and engulf the region in bloody conflict.

The recent attack against the Mavi Marmara is illustrative of this danger. We grieve with Turkey for 12 of its citizens who died in the course of an Israeli military attack, on the humanitarian vessel Mavi Marmara.

There were 12 Indonesians on board that vessel during the attack. This shows, how deep is the sympathy of Indonesia for the plight of the Palestinian people. And how much we support Turkey’s efforts, to help a long-oppressed neighbour.

These 12 Indonesians are now safe even- though two of them are badly wounded, and some of them have made their way back to their loved ones in Indonesia. We are thankful for what Turkey has done to ensure their well-being.

We condemn this criminal act of aggression by Israel. In the interest of justice, there must be an impartial and transparent investigation of that attack. And Israel must be prevailed upon to lift its illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip and other occupied territories, which has triggered a humanitarian crisis. It must cease violating international law and UN Security Council resolutions. It must stop building illegal settlements in Palestine.

We support Palestine’s position on the proximity talks, and all efforts to make the talks possible. These include reconciliation among the Palestinian factions. The process must lead to a two-state solution, with Palestine living in peace side by side with Israel, within internationally guaranteed borders.

We will sustain our efforts to organize and offer capacity-building programmes for Palestinian officials and citizens—in preparation for the day when Palestine finally exercises its right to sovereignty and independence. By 2013, we shall have trained some 1,000 Palestinian citizens and officials.

Finally, a 21st century relations between Indonesia and Turkey compel us to work together address global challenges : nuclear disarmament, natural disasters, terrorism, infectious diseases, and others. The most urgent among these global challenges is climate change.

Like Turkey, Indonesia is doing all it can, to help the international community achieve a climate regime that is compatible with sustainable development. I hope that will happen in the Cancun Conference at the end of the year.

I applaud Turkey’s reform in the use of energy, and wish every success for its new national strategy on climate change. For Indonesia’s part, we are committed to a 26 percent reduction of our carbon emissions by 2020 based on our own resources. With international support, we can commit to a 41 percent reduction of emissions.

I am sure that in our advocacies and initiatives—in the G-20, in the United Nations and other forums—we will be joined by others, who share the same vision of a better world.

And the best way to pursue these initiatives is through the exercise of soft power. If the 20th century was a century of hard power – with two World Wars and millions of deaths resulting from conflicts – we can make the 21st century a century of soft power. A century in which nations avoid conflict and live in harmony with one another. A century in which connectivity, cooperation and goodwill prevail, and nations harness their diversity. Thus humankind will reach new heights of achievement, including the conquest of poverty and prejudice.

And, finally, whatever we accomplish together—much or little—will make a difference for this and future generations of humankind.
Let us join hands, to make that difference.

I thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum Wr. Wb.

Source: Presidential Palace



H.E. DR. SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA

AT THE PRESENTATION OF THE BOOK
“WORDS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD”
BY ITS AUTHOR, MR. RICHARD GREENE

TORONTO, CANADA
26 JUNE 2010 – [ 15.10 – 15.30 ]

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Thank you Richard for your kind comments. I appreciate your coming here to Toronto, to launch the addendum to the “Words that Shook the World” on your e-book.

For the benefit of our journalists and friends in this room, I should say that Richard Greene is, a leading communications and public speaking Guru, and his book “Words that Shook the World” was actually already in my library at home, before I met him last year. His resume is very impressive. He is a public speaking advisor to Presidents, Prime Ministers, Senators, CEOs, Royalty and celebrities in 29 countries.

I am personally honoured with the inclusion of my Harvard speech in the book, along with the speech of President Barack Obama.

The Harvard speech is indeed one of my favourites. I have received many positive comments and responses, about the speech. My other favourites would be: the speech at the climate change conference in Bali in 2007, which I found the most dramatic, diplomatically and politically. Also, my speech at the Joint Session of the Australian Parliament last March. My speech at the Conference of World Movement for Democracy recently. And also my tsunami speech at the White House in 2005.

With regard to my Harvard speech, I hope the basic messages of the speech would inspire humankind across generation. That message is: in the twenty-first century humanity can finally have the opportunity and capacity to create a world marked by harmony among civilizations, but this can only happen if we all work together and avoid the mistakes of the past.

I also congratulate you, Richard, on your innovative idea to produce this speech compendium in the e-book format. I look forward to reading it on my I-pad.

Once again, thank you Richard for the presentation of your book. And thank you for your friendship for Indonesia, and I look forward to seeing you again in Indonesia, in the near future.

Source: Presidential Palace

Wakil Kepala Perwakilan RI Yuwono Putranto memimpin tim KBRI Roma -- yang terdiri dari Minister Counsellor Politik dan pelaksana Fungsi Protokol-Konsuler Krishna Hannan serta staf Protokol-Konsuler Adnan Irodat -- untuk melaksanakan inisiatif "jemput bola" dalam rangka membantu WNI melakukan pengurusan keimigrasian dengan asas hemat waktu dan hemat biaya.

Piacenza, Emilia Romagna, Italia. Wakil Kepala Perwakilan RI (Wakeppri) di Roma, Yuwono A. Putranto, menyampaikan pada tanggal 14 Maret 2010 bahwa perhatian dan pelayanan Perwakilan RI kepada WNI di luar negeri merupakan salah satu dari empat prioritas yang telah dicanangkan oleh Kementerian Luar Negeri RI. Oleh karena itu, Wakeppri Yuwono memohon kepada WNI di luar negeri untuk tidak segan menyampaikan hal-hal yang kurang berkenan dalam pelayanan yang diberikan oleh KBRI.

Wakeppri Yuwono menekankan pula akan perlunya KBRI dan WNI yang berada di Italia untuk dapat tetap memelihara dan bahkan meningkatkan komunikasi yang sudah berjalan dengan baik selama ini.

Hal-hal lainnya yang disampaikan Wakeppri Yuwono dalam pertemuan dengan WNI yang difasilitasi oleh Kelompok Perkawinan Campur Indonesai – Italia (KPC Melati) adalah berkaitan dengan perkembangan terakhir di Indonesia.

Inisiatif KBRI Roma untuk melakukan “jemput bola” pada tanggal 14 Maret 2010 kemarin memperoleh apresiasi, baik dari WNI itu sendiri maupun pasangan pernikahan campur, dan dinyatakan telah banyak membantu WNI melakukan pengurusan keimigrasian Indonsai dengan asas hemat waktu dan hemat biaya memperoleh sambutan yang sangat positif dari WNI yang hadir.

Sekitar 130 orang hadir pada acara tersebut, dimana telah dilakukan pelayanan kekonsuleran dan hal-hal yang berkaitan dengan keimigrasian WNI di luar negeri — seperti, pencatatan diri; perpanjangan paspor; pergantian buku paspor; dwi kewarganegaraan bagi WNI di bawah 18 tahun; dan perubahan alamat atau nama — kepada WNI yang berdomisili di Italia Utara.

Sumber: KBRI Roma

Presiden SBY hari Rabu (20/1) siang bertemu dengan mantan presiden BJ Habibe. Pertemuan terjadi dalam acara silaturahmi dengan Akademi Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia dan Masyarakat Ilmiah di Gedung AIPI (Akademi Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia), PUSPITEK, Serpong, Tangerang, Provinsi Banten. BJ hbibie hadir dalam acara ini sebagai senior dan pendiri AIPI.

Serpong, 20 Januari 2010

Bismillah Hirrahmanirrahim
Assalamu’alaikum Wr Wb
Salam sejahtera untuk kita semua,

Yang saya hormati, Presiden Republik Indonesia ketiga, Bapak Prof. Dr. Baharudin Jusuf Habibie,
Yang saya hormati Menteri Riset dan Teknologi dan para Menteri Kabinet Indonesia Bersatu II,
Yang Mulia Ambassador Cameron Hume,
Yang saya hormati Gubernur Banten,
Ketua Akademi Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia (AIPI) dan Para Ilmuwan yang tergabung dalam AIPI, LIPI, dan asosiasi-asosiasi ilmu pengetahuan di Indonesia,

Hadirin sekalian yang saya muliakan,
Marilah kita bersama-sama, memanjatkan puji dan syukur ke hadirat Tuhan Yang Maha Kuasa, Allah SWT, karena atas rahmat dan karunia-Nya, kita tetap diberi kekuatan, dan insya Allah kesehatan, sehingga kita dapat bertatap muka dalam kesempatan yang membahagiakan ini.

Melalui kesempatan ini pula, saya ingin menyampaikan penghargaan yang tinggi kepada para ilmuwan terkemuka Indonesia yang tergabung dalam Akademi Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia (AIPI), atas pemikiran, kajian, dan penelitian yang bermanfaat bagi masyarakat, bangsa, dan negara. Kemajuan yang kita capai hingga hari ini, tentu tidak terlepas dari kontribusi saudara semua.

Saya juga menyampaikan penghargaan yang tinggi atas pernyataan Presiden Barack Obama, yang baru saja dibacakan oleh Duta Besar Cameron Hume. Pandangan yang konstruktif dan ajakan positif Presiden Obama untuk meningkatkan kerjasama bilateral di bidang Iptek, pendidikan, energi dan perubahan iklim patut kita sambut dengan baik. Namun kita semua juga merasa prihatin bahwa US Science and Technology Special Envoy, Mr. Bruce Alberts, yang semula akan hadir di sini mengalami musibah kecelakaan. Mari kita doakan, agar Mr. Bruce Alberts dapat lekas pulih kembali seperti sediakala.

Saudara-saudara,
Kita sungguh berharap, pertemuan ini dapat merintis jalan ke arah peningkatan kerja sama antara Indonesia-Amerika Serikat, di bidang ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi.

Indonesia dan Amerika Serikat kini sedang aktif menggarap suatu Kemitraan Strategis baru: yaitu suatu kemitraan komprehensif, yang mencakup kerja sama dalam berbagai sektor penting bagi kedua negara. Dalam kaitan ini, kerja sama di bidang pendidikan dan teknologi menjadi bagian penting dari kemitraan strategis kedua negara. Insya Allah, Kemitraan Komprehensif ini dapat diresmikan dalam kunjungan Presiden Barack Obama ke Indonesia yang direncanakan tahun ini.

Saya juga menyambut baik pernyataan Presiden Obama di Kairo bulan Juni tahun lalu, bahwa Amerika Serikat kini berkomitmen untuk membangun kemitraan baru—“a new beginning”—dengan dunia Islam, yang di antaranya mencakup kerja sama di bidang ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi.

Hal ini penting karena beberapa hal :

PERTAMA, memang, kalau kita ingin membangun suatu peradaban dunia (global civilization), kita perlu terus membangun jembatan antar-peradaban, terutama di antara dunia Barat dan dunia Islam. Semua pihak harus berperan aktif menyebarkan soft power, yang akan memperkokoh landasan bagi perdamaian dunia.

KEDUA, Islam tidak pernah bertolak belakang atau memusuhi ilmu pengetahuan–bahkan Islam selalu selaras dengan ilmu pengetahuan. Bahkan, puncak kejayaan Islam sebagai peradaban dunia yang paling maju di Abad ke-13 justru terjadi, karena umat Islam membuka diri dan mengejar ilmu pengetahuan di manapun. Dengan pusat peradaban di Baghdad, umat Islam mencatat berbagai kemajuan dan penemuan penting dalam perkembangan ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi yang sampai sekarang kita rasakan manfaatnya: kompas, anestesi, aljabar, optik, astrologi, irigasi, navigasi, kimia, teknik sipil, rumah sakit pertama, dan kapal-kapal perdagangan. Pesan dan pelajaran sejarah ini masih tetap relevan–bahkan semakin relevan–sekarang: “siapa yang mau maju, harus menguasai ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi.

Dan KETIGA, tidak akan pernah ada the second Islamic renaissance di Abad ke-21, tanpa penguasaan umat Islam di bidang iptek. Meskipun terdapat kemajuan di beberapa komunitas Islam, sebagian besar umat Islam saat ini masih tertinggal dalam pencapaian Millenium Development Goals, dan Human Development Index, masih banyak yang hidup di bawah garis kemiskinan, serta masih termarginalisasi dalam era globalisasi. Masih banyak umat Islam yang terlalu bernostalgia terhadap kejayaan di masa lalu, tanpa memahami bahwa peluang untuk maju dan berkarya di depan mata justru jauh lebih besar.

Sewaktu saya berpidato di Harvard University akhir tahun lalu, dan juga dalam artikel The Economists yang saya tulis, saya menekankan bahwa Abad ke-21 tidak harus mengikuti skenario “clash of civilizations”. Abad ke-21 justru dapat kita wujudkan menjadi suatu “confluence of civilizations”, di mana seluruh peradaban dunia–apakah Barat, Islam, Timur–dapat hidup berdampingan secara damai, dan dapat saling memperkaya dan melengkapi.

Kita yakini bahwa hal ini bukan sebuah utopia, tetapi suatu visi yang realistis–an achieveable vision.

Hadirin yang saya hormati,
Mari kita memulai dengan suatu preposisi: “Abad ke-21 akan menjadi abad paling inovatif dalam sejarah umat manusia”.

Disadari atau tidak, kita sedang berada dalam arus perubahan sejarah yang sangat dahsyat. Ada yang menyatakan bahwa arus perubahan dalam 10 tahun mendatang, akan lebih deras daripada perubahan dalam 100 tahun terakhir.

Kita lihat saja komputer, internet dan telepon selular. Di awal tahun 1990an, email, komputer dan handphone hanya dinikmati oleh segelintir orang. Kini, 20 tahun kemudian, di seluruh dunia, 1,4 milyar orang telah mempunyai e-mail, ada 1 miliar komputer, dan 3,3 miliar pengguna handphone–sekitar separuh dari jumlah penduduk dunia. Proses ini akan terus berkembang. Kita meyakini bahwa di paruh kedua Abad-21, sebagian besar umat manusia akan terjamah oleh komputer, internet dan handphone.

Peradaban manusia juga sering berubah karena ide-ide dan penemuan-penemuan baru. Penemuan bubuk mesiu menimbulkan transformasi militer dengan segala implikasi politiknya. Penemuan mesin uap memulai revolusi industri dan mengubah sejarah Eropa. Penemuan vaksin di abad ke-18 mengubah ilmu kodokteran dan menyelamatkan jutaan umat manusia. Penemuan reaksi fisi nuklir menghasilkan bom atom dan senjata nuklir yang dapat memusnahkan umat manusia.

Berbeda dari abad-abad sebelumnya, perubahan yang kita alami di Abad ke-21 akan bergerak sangat pesat. Misalnya: dalam kurun waktu hanya sekitar 100 tahun, manusia dapat bergerak dari kecepatan kuda, ke kecepatan mobil, ke kecepatan jet, ke kecepatan suara, dan bahkan sudah mendarat di bulan.

Sejumlah negara–baik besar maupun kecil—yang dulu dikenal sebagai “negara miskin” kini telah melejit menjadi ekonomi yang unggul. Indonesia sendiri, yang dulu pernah menjadi salah satu bangsa paling miskin di Asia, kini telah menjadi ekonomi terbesar di Asia Tenggara dan anggota G-20.

Kita juga melihat perubahan pesat ini di bidang lingkungan, khususnya perubahan iklim. Semenjak revolusi industri di Eropa 200 tahun lalu, karena ulah manusia, terutama di negara-negara industri maju, suhu dunia telah naik sekitar 0,6 derajat celcius. Konsentrasi karbondioksida meningkat 36%, dan lapisan ozon semakin menipis. Kalau kita tidak cepat meng-atasinya, suhu dunia bisa naik 4 derajat Celsius dan membawa malapetaka bagi umat manusia dan bagi planet bumi—rumah kita satu-satunya.

Dalam menghadapi arus sejarah yang dahsyat ini, saya yakin sekali bahwa dalam Abad ke-21 yang akan menjadi the most powerful driver of change adalah teknologi. Apakah itu bangsa, perusahaan, komunitas, atau individu, the biggest driver for change adalah teknologi.

Dewasa ini, kita semua telah melihat dan merasakan: porsi teknologi dalam PDB kita semakin besar. Porsi Teknologi dan know-how semakin menonjol, apakah itu untuk pertanian, industri, perdagangan, keuangan, pendidikan, kesehatan, pertahanan, jasa, dan lain-lain.

Makin nyata, pertumbuhan ekonomi dan daya saing sebuah bangsa sangat disumbang oleh penguasaan teknologi. Inilah yang sering disebut sebagai “intangible intellectual resources”, atau “knowledge capital”.

Kecenderungan ini akan terus menguat, karena proses pengembangan teknologi tidak akan pernah berhenti.

Dalam abad yang sangat progresif ini, kita tidak bisa lagi hanya mengutuk masa lalu atau menyalahkan orang lain. Kalau kita gagal, itu adalah kesalahan kita sendiri, karena kita tidak mampu membaca tanda-tanda zaman. Kalau kita kelak tampil unggul di depan yang lain, itu terjadi karena kerja keras dan kemampuan kita dalam beradaptasi.

Saudara-saudara,
Karena itulah, kunci dari keunggulan Indonesia di Abad ke-21 adalah ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi.

Salah satu penyebab bangsa kita terbelakang selama ratusan tahun adalah, karena nenek moyang kita tidak mendapatkan akses terhadap kemajuan ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi dari belahan dunia lain. Sebelum kebangkitan nasional tahun 1908, pada saat Eropa mendominasi dunia, Jepang mengalami Restorasi Meiji, Amerika Latin menikmati masa kemakmuran, Amerika Utara tumbuh pesat, dan Kerajaan Islam Otoman berjaya, bangsa Indonesia masih terisolasi dalam penindasan kolonialisme, dan rakyat kita tenggelam dalam kebodohan dan kemiskinan.

Abad ke-20 adalah abad kebangkitan nasional, abad kemerdekaan bagi bangsa Indonesia. Kunci sukses kita untuk mencapai itu tiada lain adalah persatuan. Kita mutlak membutuhkan persatuan untuk melawan penjajah, untuk mempertahankan kemerdekaan, untuk menangkal separatisme, untuk menjaga keutuhan wilayah, untuk membangun perekonomian, untuk meningkatkan kesejahteraan rakyat, dan untuk mengembangkan jati diri bangsa. Itulah perjuangan kita di Abad ke-20.

Di Abad ke-21, situasinya telah berbeda: Hakikatnya, Indonesia tidak punya musuh, dan tidak ada negara lain yang memusuhi Indonesia. Politik bebas aktif Indonesia kini diabdikan untuk mewujudkan “a million friends, zero enemy”. Abad ke-21 adalah abad keunggulan, dan kunci sukses untuk mencapai itu adalah inovasi. Kita memerlukan inovasi untuk memerangi kebodohan, untuk mengentaskan kemiskinan, untuk memacu pertumbuhan dan produktivitas, dan untuk menjadi bangsa yang terhormat, maju dan kompetitif.

Saudara-saudara,
Penguasaan ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi suatu bangsa adalah hasil dari suatu kerja besar yang terencana dan berkesinam-bungan. Sesungguhnya pula merupakan bagian integral yang dinamis dari sebuah peradaban (civilization).

Teknologi tidak bisa dimimpikan dan didatangkan begitu saja—bukan seperti membeli barang di supermarket. Mungkin satu dua teknologi bisa dibeli seperti itu—namun tidak untuk mencapai technological society, dan juga knowledge society.

Untuk menjadi bangsa yang menguasai iptek, kita harus bisa menempatkan inovasi sebagai urat nadi kehidupan bangsa Indonesia. Kita harus bisa menjadi Innovation Nation —bangsa inovasi! Rumah bagi manusia-manusia yang kreatif dan inovatif.

Untuk mencapai kondisi seperti itu ada sejumlah hal penting yang harus kita bangun dan lakukan.

Pertama, adalah mengubah mindset. Ingatlah, innovation is a state of mind. Inovasi itu adalah suatu semangat, suatu energi, dan suatu etos. Semua fenomena sejarah—apakah itu peradaban Islam, Renaissance di Eropa, Restorasi Meiji di Jepang, tampilnya Amerika sebagai superpower, “the rise of” Cina dan India—semuanya dimulai dengan suatu semangat, dan terbangunnya mindset baru, yang kemudian menghasilkan berbagai inovasi baru, dan yang akhirnya mengakibatkan transformasi besar-besaran.

Karena itulah, kita di Indonesia harus bisa mengembangkan budaya unggul—a culture of excellence—baik di birokrasi, di universitas, maupun di sektor swasta. Sistem dan lingkungan nasional kita harus bisa melahirkan inovator-inovator yang kreatif. Ini semua akan terwujud jika masyarakat kita, kita semua, benar-benar menghargai kerja keras kaum peneliti, ilmuwan, dan inventor. Mereka harus bisa menjadi ikon masyarakat, dan bukan menjadi catatan pinggir, apalagi hidup tanpa penghormatan, tanpa apresiasi, dan tidak sejahtera. Ilmuwan, peneliti dan inovator harus berada di garis terdepan perubahan nasib bangsa, dan menjadi pendekar keunggulan.

Inovasi juga menuntut sikap open-mind dan risk-taking, bukan sikap yang kaku dan dogmatis. Komunitas iptek Indonesia harus berwawasan jauh lebih terbuka dan lebih progresif dari masanya, dan dari masyarakat, untuk mengembangkan ilmu dan teknologi. Dalam era globalisasi dewasa ini, Nasionalisme kita dicerminkan bukan dalam tindakan melawan atau menutup diri dari dunia, namun dalam kemampuan untuk menyerap ilmu dan teknologi dari manapun untuk kepentingan rakyat Indonesia.

Karena itulah, kita bercita-cita agar Indonesia menjadi bagian integral dari komunitas ilmuwan dunia. Kita berharap sebanyak mungkin ilmuwan Indonesia mengadakan riset, baik di Indonesia maupun di luar negeri. Saya ingin ilmuwan Indonesia bahu membahu dengan ilmuwan internasional, dalam memperkaya khasanah ilmu pengetahuan umat manusia. Kita harus aktif bukan saja menyerap ilmu dari dunia, namun juga menyumbang ilmu untuk dunia.

Itulah mindset yang akan mengantarkan kita menjadi Innovation Nation.

Saudara-saudara faktor kedua adalah, selain didukung mindset yang tepat, inovasi juga memerlukan Investasi dan Insentif. Inovasi tidak datang dari langit, namun memerlukan inkubator-inkubator—di lingkungan pemerintah, universitas, perusahaan, dan lain-lain. Mau tidak mau, harus ada sumberdaya dan dana yang cukup, serta program yang berkesinambungan.

Pada awal saya mengemban amanah rakyat, saya menyadari bahwa alokasi dana untuk penelitian dan pengembangan (R&D-research and development) di Indonesia pada tahun 2005 masih rendah – yaitu sekitar Rp 1 trilyun. Karena itulah, pemerintah terus berupaya untuk meningkatkan porsi itu menjadi lebih memadai, dan syukur alhamdullilah pada tahun 2010 dapat kita tingkatkan menjadi Rp 1,9 triliun. Tentu saja jumlah inipun masih harus terus kita tingkatkan. Namun, perlu diingat, sumberdaya dan dana penelitian dan pengembangan tidak hanya berasal dari APBN, tetapi juga mesti dianggarkan oleh dunia usaha yang juga memerlukan inovasi di perusahaannya masing-masing. Pendanaan dari kerjasama internasional juga merupakan alternatif yang makin terbuka.

Sementara itu saya berpandangan, bahwa cara penting untuk membangun inovasi adalah melalui pengembangan enterpreneurship. Kita semua tahu bahwa enterpreneurship identik dengan inovasi, risk-taking, peluang, dan dinamisme. Di Amerika, Cina, India, Jepang, Korea, dan Singapura, kita melihat bahwa inovasi tumbuh pesat sejalan dengan merebaknya enterpreneurship.

Yang juga penting diingat: kita tidak harus selalu menjadi inventor teknologi baru. Namun kita harus cerdik mencari, menyerap dan mengembangkan teknologi baru untuk pembangunan Indonesia. Bahkan, sering terjadi, pihak yang lebih cerdik mendayagunakan teknologi bisa lebih maju dari pihak yang menemukan teknologi itu sendiri.

Faktor ketiga adalah, kebijakan pemerintah dan kolaborasi. Kalau kita lihat dari bukti-bukti empiris, hampir semua inovasi teknologi merupakan hasil dari suatu kolaborasi, apakah itu kolaborasi antar-pemerintah, antar-universitas, antar-perusahaan, antar-ilmuwan, atau kombinasi dari semuanya. Karena itulah, networking antara inkubator menjadi sangat penting. Saya mendorong ilmuwan Indonesia untuk menjalin networking dan kolaborasi yang seluas-luasnya dengan lembaga penelitian, lembaga kajian dan universitas manapun di dunia, karena ini adalah kunci sukses bagi masa depan kita. Salah satu ciri Era Globalisasi dewasa ini adalah keniscayaan untuk sebuah knowledge-sharing antar bangsa.

Hadirin sekalian yang saya hormati,
Dunia kini boleh dikatakan sedang panen teknologi. Namun perlu diingat, teknologi yang kita cari dan pilih haruslah tetap relevan dengan tantangan-tantangan yang dihadapi bangsa Indonesia sekarang dan ke depan. Tantangan itu antara lain adalah : pengentasan kemiskinan, ketahanan pangan dan energi, pemeliharaan lingkungan hidup, peningkatan industri, ketangguhan pertahanan dan keamanan negara, serta penguasaan teknologi yang menjemput masa depan.

Karena itulah, ke depan, bangsa Indonesia harus makin menguasai teknologi, yang dapat menjawab tantangan-tantangan pokok itu.

Pertama, teknologi untuk mengentaskan kemiskinan–pro-poor technology.

Teknologi sering disalah-persepsikan seolah hanya untuk kepentingan industri besar yang canggih saja. Padahal untuk negeri kita juga diperlukan teknologi yang dapat memberdayakan rakyat miskin. Misalnya: telekomunikasi murah untuk desa terpencil, bibit unggul, teknologi air bersih, hidroenergi dan Rumah Sederhana Tahan Gempa.

Kedua, teknologi hijau – green technology. Kita sudah menetapkan target penurunan emisi 26% untuk tahun 2020 dari “business as usual”, dan target ini bisa ditingkatkan menjadi 41% apabila ada bantuan internasional yang memadai. Untuk itu, kita harus menerapkan pembangunan yang hemat energi (low carbon footprint), meningkatkan penggunaan sumber energi terbarukan seperti geothermal, angin, dan surya, serta meningkatkan teknologi pengawasan hutan, misalnya melalui satelit, untuk mendeteksi hotspot kebakaran hutan. Saya juga bangga bahwa seorang inovator energi kita, Saudari Tri Mumpuni, telah merintis pembangunan energi mikro-hidro di desa-desa, dan telah mendapatkan pengakuan internasional. Inovasi segar seperti ini harus terus dikembangkan dan disebarkan.

Ketiga, teknologi pangan, yang sangat penting bagi kesejahteraan rakyat kita (food security). Kita memerlukan teknologi pertanian baru untuk mencari bibit unggul, meningkatkan hasil panen, dan melipat-gandakan produktifitas pangan guna mencapai kondisi swasembada, bahkan ketahanan pangan yang berkelanjutan. Saya ingin, pada saatnya nanti Indonesia menjadi “major food producer” di dunia internasional.

Keempat, teknologi industri. Produk-produk industri Indonesia harus bisa menunjang pencapaian 2 aspek penting, yaitu padat teknologi dan padat karya. Kita harus bisa membuat industri kita lebih efisien, lebih produktif dan lebih mempunyai nilai tambah. Kita juga harus mulai mencapai high-end products, menciptakan branding yang dikenal dunia internasional, dan bahkan bisa bersaing dalam aspek desain yang selama ini cenderung didominasi industri negara-negara maju. Hal ini penting karena pada saat ini dan ke depan, industri akan tetap menjadi tulang panggung ekonomi Indonesia.

Kelima, teknologi kesehatan. Kita harus mencari teknologi terkini untuk memerangi penyakit-penyakit menular : apakah itu H5N1, H1N1 dan virus-virus berbahaya lainnya, yang pasti akan terus bermutasi mengancam keluarga kita dan bahkan umat manusia. Virus berbahaya, sama seperti bencana alam, akan menjadi salah satu ancaman paling riil bagi bangsa kita di abad ke-21. Seperti yang kita alami dalam kasus epidemi H1N1 (Swine Flu), Indonesia tidak bisa menangani ancaman ini sendiri, apalagi kalau menyangkut virus yang datang dari luar yang kita tidak mempunyai vaksinnya. Karena itulah, kita harus bekerja-sama dua arah : kita berbagi ilmu dan penemuan dengan dunia kesehatan internasional, sebagaimana kita terus mengharapkan dunia luar berbagi dengan kita.

Keenam, teknologi maritim. Sebagai negara Nusantara, kita harus membangun teknologi kelautan, misalnya untuk konversi air minum atau teknologi perkapalan. Kita juga harus mendapatkan teknologi canggih untuk bisa mengeksplorasi kekayaan alam yang terkandung di dalamnya, baik perikanan, hydrocarbon dan mineral. Saat ini, misalnya, kita belum mempunyai kemampuan yang memadai untuk melakukan offshore drilling apalagi deep sea drilling. Indonesia secara fisik adalah negara Kepulauan terbesar di dunia, tapi kita belum menjadi negara maritim yang kuat.

Ketujuh, teknologi pertahanan. Disini, TNI harus terus meningkatkan postur dan kapabilitasnya, termasuk penguasaan “revolution in military affairs” (RMA). Kita harus bisa meningkatkan kualitas dan tingkat teknologi industri pertahanan kita– termasuk melalui joint production dengan industri militer negara-negara lain, serta bentuk kerjasama yang lain. TNI harus meningkatkan kapasitas untuk melakukan military operations other than war (MOOTW), serta kemampuan peace-keeping operation di wilayah-wilayah konflik di dunia. TNI juga harus mempunyai kemampuan untuk melakukan surveillance dan menjaga pulau-pulau terpencil, wilayah perbatasan dan lautan Nusantara yang terbentang luas. Sementara itu, Polri dan aparat intelijen juga harus terus meningkatkan kemampuan operasionalnya untuk melawan kejahatan trans-nasional, termasuk kelompok teroris yang juga memanfaatkan teknologi yang canggih.

Dan, kedelapan adalah, teknologi masa depan: yaitu nano technology, bio-engineering, genomics, robotics, dan lain-lain. Teknologi-teknologi revolusioner ini tentu tidak sepatutnya hanya didominasi dan dimonopoli negara-negara maju saja. Banyak emerging economies –seperti Cina, India, dan Brazil – yang kini mulai merintis teknologi-teknologi baru ini. Indonesia tidak boleh tertinggal. Saya senang sekali bahwa Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH) sudah mulai membangun pusat riset untuk nano-technology.

Hadirin sekalian yang saya hormati,
Untuk mengembangkan semua ini, dibutuhkan suatu Sistim Inovasi Nasional, yaitu suatu pengaturan kelembagaan yang secara sistemik dan berjangka-panjang dapat mendorong, mendukung, menyebarkan dan menerapkan inovasi-inovasi di berbagai sektor, dan dalam skala nasional.

Konsep seperti ini relatif baru, meskipun sudah mulai diterapkan di beberapa negara yang mengalami transformasi. Setiap negara mempunyai Sistim Inovasi Nasional dengan corak yang berbeda dan khas, yang sesuai dengan kebutuhan dan kondisinya masing-masing.

Saya berpendapat, di Indonesia, kita juga harus mengembangkan Sistem Inovasi Nasional, yang didasarkan pada suatu kemitraan antara pemerintah, komunitas ilmuwan dan swasta, dan dengan berkolaborasi dengan dunia internasional. Oleh karena itu, berkaitan dengan pandangan ini, dalam waktu dekat saya akan membentuk Komite Inovasi Nasional, yang langsung bertanggung jawab kepada Presiden, untuk ikut memastikan bahwa Sistem Inovasi Nasional dapat berkembang dan berjalan dengan baik.

Semua ini penting kalau kita sungguh ingin Indonesia menjadi knowledge society.

Kita dikaruniai wilayah yang sangat luas, yang terbentang dari Sabang ke Marauke, dari Miangas ke Pulau Rote. Kita mempunyai sumber daya alam yang berlimpah. Kita memiliki sumberdaya manusia yang tangguh, yang terus dapat ditingkatkan keunggulan dan daya saingnya. Dan kita mempunyai hubungan yang baik dengan semua pihak—baik dunia Barat, dunia Islam, negara-negara berkembang, emerging economies, dan lain-lain—yang semuanya dapat menjadi mitra pembangunan Indonesia.

Karenanya, dengan semua ini, ke depan, Indonesia mempunyai peluang emas untuk memajukan kehidupan bangsa kita. Strategi yang kita tempuh untuk menjadi negara maju, developed country, adalah dengan memadukan pendekatan sumberdaya alam, iptek dan budaya, atau knowledge-based, resource-based and culture-based development.

Kalau visi ini kelak tercapai, bangsa kita akan mengalami transformasi yang fundamental, menjadi bangsa yang maju dan jaya di Abad ke-21. Mari kita songsong era itu dengan kepercayaan sebagai sebuah bangsa yang penuh inovasi. Insya Allah, dengan ridho Tuhan Yang Maha Kuasa, serta dengan persatuan, kebersamaan dan kerja keras kita, masa gemilang itu akan datang.

Terima kasih.
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Serpong, 20 Januari 2010
PRESIDEN REPUBLIK INDONESIA

DR. H. SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Germany’s Chancelor Angela Merkel in a press conference following a bilateral meeting on 15 December 2009. Among the agenda items in the bilateral meeting are ways to raise bilateral cooperation between the two countries, including in the fields of: (i) trade and investment; (ii) relationship between Islam and the West; and (iii) interfaith and interreligious dialogues.

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim
May God’s Peace be Upon Us

Ambassador Firtjof von Nordenskjold
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear friends,

Thank you Ambassador for your kind introduction. If you could only say those nice things during my recent re-election campaign.

I am very pleased to be here. I wish to thank the German Council on Foreign Relations for organizing this event. And I am pleased to convey to you the warm greetings of 230 million Indonesians whom I represent here today.

Before all else, let me say that I just had a very good discussion with Chancellor Angela Merkel. I have met her on a number of occasions – mostly international forums – and I find her to be a very impressive and creative leader. We discussed a wide range of bilateral issues – trade and investment, education, technology, forestry and climate change –and we agreed to strengthen and elevate our bilateral relations.

We also discussed Copenhagen –how can we not ? We both are determined to ensure the success of the COP-15 which is going to be my next stop after Berlin. Like the climate conference in Bali in 2007, Copenhagen is going to be a tough deal to strike. But with over 100 leaders gathered there and with a determination to success. I am hopeful that we CAN reach a new global climate consensus and a good political agreement in Copenhagen.

In my view that agreement would have to bring everybody on board with no one opting out. That agreement would have to deliver on all the Bali building blocks –including mitigation, adaptation, technology sharing and financing. That agreement would have to be a stepping stone for a comprehensive and detailed climate treaty, that would be completed in 2010. And that agreement would have to produce a global climate regime that would keep average world temperature to within 2 degrees centigrade.

Ladies and Gentlemen
I have been asked to brief you about Indonesia.

I will cover three major topics : one, on the state of Indonesia’s democracy. Two, on our being an emerging economy. Three, on our tropical rainforests which is crucial as the planet’s indispensable carbon sink.

These three topics in some measure represent how Indonesia has been transformed –politically, diplomatically, economically– in recent years. They also form part of our international identity : things that define our place, our relevance and our contributions in the world community.

First, about democracy.
As you know this is a very big year for Indonesia’s democracy. We held two major free and fair elections: nation-wide Parliamentary elections in April and Presidential elections in July. It was an enormous undertaking: some 128 million Indonesians cast their votes, an 84 % voter turn-out, a very high turn out by any standard.

This is our third election since the era of reformasi began in the late 1990’s. If, as political scientists like to say, a country’s democratic transition can be judged by its ability to pass 2 peaceful elections and peaceful change-overs then you could now comfortably say, that Indonesia’s democracy has come a long way and indeed has achieved a point of no return.

A recent survey found that some 88 % of Indonesian respondents despite their different political views believe that the nation is on the right track. This means that regardless of whatever criticism they may have on the Government or political parties they have very high confidence in the system in the merit and value of democracy, and that is the unmistakable mark of a maturing democracy.

Indonesia’s recent development is a surprise to some – an unlikely story. It is generally known that Indonesia is difficult country to govern with over 17,000 islands over 3 time zones, hundreds of ethnic groups, and a difficult historical path. There are those who believed that Indonesia could not withstand the various forces and factors pulling it apart from inside and outside the country. They point to the fact that separatist rebellions, communal conflicts, economic crisis had nearly paralyzed us.

Perhaps.

But the story Indonesia is the story of survival against the odds. A story of a resilient people who keep bouncing back no matter what hit them.

Today, 10 years after reformasi, Indonesia is more united, more dynamic and more stable than ever. Peace in Aceh and Papua. Recovery from the tsunami. Stable Government. Successful decentralization. We have become the world’s third largest democracy, after India and the United States. And this year, despite the fact that many economies are experiencing negative growth, our economy is expected to grow 4,3 % — the third highest in Asia after China and India.

Indeed, in recent years, Indonesia has undergone a “quiet revolution.” In the last 5 years, unlike before, all the Governors, Regents, mayors, and local Parliamentarians throughout Indonesia have now been directly elected by the people. In other words, democracy has broadened and deepened. This has fundamentally changed the Indonesian political landscape, turning the pyramid upside down. And this quiet revolution happened in a very peaceful, orderly way, without creating chaos or bloodshed in the streets.

Indeed, I think the term “remarkable Indonesia” which was the central theme of recent advertisements in CNN and international stations, adequately describe my nation.

What is the secret ? Well, perhaps there is a hidden hand of history at work – pushing us in the right direction, lifting us when we are down, guiding us in difficult times.

But I think, much of it has to do with our ability to reinvent ourselves.

We Indonesians have, on many historical occasions, been called to adapt and change our worldview.

We got rid of colonialism and put in place an egalitarian society.

We got rid of feudalism, and adopted embraced emancipation.

We got rid of parochialism and adopted multi-culturalism and tolerance.

We got rid of authoritarian tendencies and embraced democracy and human rights.

We are now trying our best to get rid of corruption from our national system, an effort that has been described as the most aggressive campaign in our history.

The key here is our ability to welcome and pursue change, rather than resist it. And if you ask me I think this “adaptability” holds the key to success to all the countries that are trying to redefine their place in the new world of the 21st century.

Another key ingredient of our transformation is our ability to change the system. For too long we relied on political systems that relied on powerful figureheads and when the figureheads fall, the system came crashing down with them.

This was not healthy.

In the last 11 years, Indonesians focused on building the system, irregardless of who was the leader. We strengthened our national institutions. We removed restrictions on political parties while making politicians more accountable to their constituents. We reformed our laws, and established free press and freedom of associations. We abolished oppressive laws. We took the military out of politics.

We established a system of checks and balances. We promoted good governance and transparency.

Along the way, of course, we made many mistakes. But we learned from the mistakes and we kept our eyes looking forward/ not backward. And in contrast with the past, as in the 1960’s when “politics were supreme” or in the 1970’s when “economics were supreme” this time: it is the law that is supreme. This has made our democracy much more stable, predictable and sustainable.

I call this a “stake-holder democracy” where every citizen can feel that he or she is part of a democratic system/ and has a stake in its success.

And this brings me to another to our success: our unyielding faith in the Indonesian people. This is NOT a matter of rhetoric, it is practical politics.

In the Indonesian context for so long politicians tend to have a patronizing view of the mass: that they were not educated enough, not informed enough, they are not used to democracy, they are too poor to make sound political choice, they are too distant to exercise effective political participation.

What we have refreshingly found indeed is the opposite : despite the ups and downs of the country’s fortunes, the people would not waver in their belief in democracy would not retreat from reforms, would not let go of their hope, and would continue to exercise their rights based on good judgment. It proved that the maturity of our democracy owes much to the maturity of our people. It is the people who give life and substance/ who shape and advance our democracy. It is they who are the “hidden hand” of our democratic development.

Indonesia’s transformation is far from complete. Democracy is a never-ending work. But we are pleased that we in Indonesia have achieved something important: to finally connect democracy with stability. This is important because in the 6 years between 1998-2004, we had 4 Presidents come and go. That is no longer the case today : my last government lasted a full five-year term, from 2004-2009, I expect the present Government to have the same life span.

The emergence of Indonesia’s stable democracy is good not just for Indonesia, but also for the region and for the world. This is because Indonesia is the largest and most populous country in Southeast Asia and because Indonesia also has the world’s largest Muslim population –there are more Muslims in Indonesia than in the entire Middle-East. Indeed, we are proud of the fact that in our country, Islam, democracy and modernity grow together easily and harmoniously. This is why we believe Indonesia can play a strategic role in world affairs : to bridge between Islam and the west/ to promote moderate Islam within the Islamic world, to promote tolerance and harmony among civilizations. It is a challenge which we relish in.

Indonesia as an Emerging Economy

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me now talk about Indonesia as an emerging economy. Look, this is rather new to us. In the 1960s, we were trapped under massive poverty, hyperinflation, economic mismanagement, under investment low production and low growth. In the 1970s, we experienced high economic growth, one of the “Asian miracles”. But this was based on shifting sands and rampant corruption, collusion and nepotism. Then, we had the financial crisis. We were probably the worst hit among other Asian countries with the economy contracting by 13 %.

But then something happened. Not only did we get the politics right; we also got the economics right. In the early years of reforms, our growth hovered around 2 to 3 %, especially during the political crisis. Then, our economy slowly sped up. We pursued prudent financial and banking system, maintained macro economic stability and promoted legal and bureaucratic reform. We made bold decisions to cut fuel subsidies which was politically dangerous and socially painful but economically necessary.

The results?

Last year, our economy grew by 6,1 %, the highest since the crisis. Our trade crossed the USD$ 100 billion mark. Our national budget reached 1000 trillion rupiah, the highest in history. Our Rupiah has been stable, at one point one of Asia’s strongest currency. Our stock market is among the 3 best performing in Asia. Our credit rating is at its best since the crisis. Our debt to GDP ratio is now at 33%, the lowest in history. Our reserves is also at its highest in history. We achieved self-sufficiency in rice. We have a large and growing middle class with higher purchasing power, that is the key driver of Indonesia’s GDP growth. We are launching the most aggressive anti-poverty program in history – some 70 billion rupiah were allocated for poverty alleviation programs.

While other economies slipped into recession, Indonesia was one of a handful of countries that continued to grow. As I said earlier, we expect a positive growth rate of around 4.3% this year, and we are targeting a growth rate of 5 – 5.5% next year.

Best of all, we did not have to chose between politics and economics – between democracy or growth.

No. We chose both. We gained political development as well as economic development. Not one at the expense of the other.

Indonesia indeed is a different country now. Newsweek recently called Indonesia “the next India” –whatever that means… but it sounds good to me! Time magazine called our country “a political success story.” Another writer has called Indonesia “a pivotal state.” And investors are now talking about BRIICS – Brazil,Russia, India,Indonesia, China and South Africa. And of course, Indonesia is now a member of the G-20 which has become the premier forum for international economic cooperation.

Call us what you will, but Indonesia is a country whose time has come. We are a vibrant democracy, with a promising economy, with abundant natural resources, and a dynamic population. And of course great food and amazing beaches. And, well better weather…

As one of the emerging economies, in fact we are number 19 in terms of size. Indonesia continues to play a contributing role in the reforms of the international financial architecture as a member of the G-20. We are also the largest country in Southeast Asia and play an active role in the regional frameworks such as ASEAN, East Asia Summit and APEC.

We would like to have closer and deeper relationship with the EU, in particular with Germany, and together we can find win-win ways to grow together.

Germany is Indonesia’s largest trading partner within the EU. In 2008, our total trade was US$ 5.5 billion, with Germany being our second largest export market and the largest source of our imports in the EU. Germany is also an important investor in Indonesia in the automotive, industrial, machinery and chemical products.

There is a great deal of potential for the cooperation between our two countries to grow even more.To continue on a sustainable growth path, Indonesia will need more investments in almost all sectors – infrastructure, energy, and agriculture, and need to revitalize our industrial sector.

One very important area of cooperation that we have agreed on, and one where Germany is a leader, is the area of renewable energy technology – this is a win for business for the environment and climate change and for the people. The areas of cooperation and business opportunities cover low carbon emission energy, efficiency from conversion and utilization of geothermal energy, bio fuels, fuel cell technology and gasification of coal.

We certainly welcome your participation in our national target to increase renewable energy mix from 4.3% in 2008 to 17% in 2025 in our national energy use. In this scheme, biofuel and geothermal will each account for 5% and the rest contributed by biomass, hydro, wind, solar and liquefied coal.

This brings me to a very important topic that Germany and Indonesia share an equally important interest and commitment – Climate Change and forestry.

Indonesia : Crucial Carbon Sink

Let me begin with this : there is no machine made by man that can absorb the greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. The only thing that can do that for now is the trees the forests. And Indonesia has plenty of them.

We are blessed with the fact that we not only have the world’s largest archipelago spread over 17,000 islands but also that we have one of the largest tracks of tropical rainforests in the world.

These rainforests are a critical part of the solution to global warming. Mitigation is only half of the picture; the other half is preserving and expanding the carbon sinks. I believe that the next global climate regime must have a very strong forestry component in it. And because for much of the forests in the industrial countries had been cut down the hope now hangs on the developing nations that have tropical forests, including Indonesia.

Protecting these forests – the lungs of the earth – is a top priority for my Government. Protecting our forests is a key to low carbon development path.

Indonesians are earth-loving : our whole culture and way of life revolve around caring for nature – the land, the forests, the seas and rivers.

Thus, we have cracked down very hard on illegal loggers: hundreds of illegal loggers are now in jail and on trial for their activities. Government officials who are complicit in providing unlawful license to clear forests are tried for corruption. We have made a short medium and long-term plans with the aim to manage conserve and expand our forests. Starting next year, we will plant trees in areas as covering 500,000 hectares each year. Our plan is for our rain forests to absorb some 1,31 giga ton of Co2 by 2020 and this will enable us to reduce emission by 26 % from business as usual by 2020 or even by 41 % by way of international cooperation.

In recent years, I have also launched a nation-wide “one man one tree” program where we plant some 200-300 million trees annually. I am personally leading a campaign to spread 400,000 seeds of Trembesi – or “rain tree” – to each province. The Trembesi tree can grow to a diameter of 30 meters in several years, and can absorb 28 tons of carbon dioxide per year.

A key concern, nationally and regionally is the annual forest fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra and Riau, which is a troubling social economic and regional problems. It is part of the reason that at one point Indonesia’s greenhouse gas emissions rose dramatically. But we have made good progress in reducing these yearly forest fires as can be seen in the declining rates of hotspots in recent years. I commend the work of Indonesian provincial Governors, many from rain forest provinces, who are working hard for low carbon development, who are here with us today. Can I ask them to stand up to be recognized ?

Preserving the forests requires political will by the Government, but also international cooperation. That is why Indonesia Brunei and Malaysia are cooperating in the Heart of Borneo program to conserve approximately 220,000 km2 of rainforest – almost one third of the island – through a network of protected areas and sustainably managed forest. Indonesia has also initiated the Forestry 11 process to mobilize the support of countries with the largest tracks of tropical rainforests in Asia, Africa and Latin America this will ensure that the forestry nations are not taken for granted but indeed can get a fair deal and adequate benefits in their efforts to preserve their forest covers.

This is important : the rainforests nations need to be incentivized to do this. They should not only be incentivized for reforestation and aforestation but also for avoided deforestation – for NOT cutting their forests. We must introduce a new logic to forestry management : that it is more profitable to keep the trees up, than to cut them down. This is what is called the REDD plus scheme.

The problem is that the carbon market is still at very early stage, and will not mature for several more years. That is why I appreciate the work initiated by the Prince of Wales, in the Informal Working Group on Interim Finance for REDD (IWG-IFR) that aims to provide interim funding for the rain forest nations. The Group recently reported that a 25% reduction in annual global deforestation rate is achievable by 2015 if finance of some 15 to 25 billion Euros for the period 2010-2015 is made available.

Whatever the mechanism, it is clear that forestry will be a key part of the next climate regime and part of the future carbon market.

So these are my thoughts on these topics.

Of course, I do not intend to paint a rosy picture. We do face mounting challenges.

On democracy, our challenge is how to balance freedom with rule of law. We also face the uphill battle to promote good governance, and to intensify our anti-corruption measures.

On economy, we are confronted with the task of generating the local economy. We also need to improve intra-state connectivity to ensure that regional economies are integrated. We have an enormous need for infrastructure development. And we need to promote reforms to ensure better business climate for all.

On climate change we need to raise awareness on global warming and all its attendant consequences. We need to mobilize the regional governments and local community. We also need to promote twin objectives for our forests : to promote development and tackle poverty and to curb global warming.

I hope you appreciate that these are great challenges but we are up to meet them. And in meeting these challenges we want to be a stronger partner for Germany. Germany is held with high regards in Indonesia. Indonesians admire the German quality of efficiency, no non-sense attitude, fairness, hard work and their extraordinary engineering prowess.

To conclude, I would like to say that we need more Indonesian students coming to Germany – there are not enough of them. We need more German business coming to Indonesia – there are not enough of them. And if they come, I am sure they will discover what others have found, that your investment will be in good hands, and your money will grow.

I hope to see you in Indonesia.

Once again, thank you for being here.

Source: State Palace
Photo: xxx

Bismillahhirranirrahim,

Mr. President,
110 world leaders did NOT come here to fail. Billions of world citizens pin their hopes on us.

We have come here to do one job : to deliver a solid political binding agreement that would lead to a legally binding climate treaty in 2010. Let me highlight FIVE key points.

First: our collective strategic goal is to limit the rise of global warming to WITHIN 2 degrees Celcius. On this point, there is no compromise. In reaching that goal, we must proceed based on common but differentiated responsibility, and respective capabilities.

Second: I call on developed countries to fulfill their historic responsibility to slow, stop and reverse global warming. They must take the lead that is expected of them, and come up with ambitious targets. Indonesia believes this commitment should be AROUND 40 %, as required by the IPCC. And ALL the major industrialized countries, one way or another, have to be on board. This is a burden and responsibility that CANNOT be shifted or deferred.

Third: All the talk about mitigation and adaptation and international cooperation is meaningless without concrete delivery on financing. The initiative for a “fast launch fund” at this conference is a good start.

But I believe the proposed figure for the fund is too modest considering at stake is the survival of humanity and our planet. In my view, this figure should <i>ideally</i> be USD$ 25-35 billion per year until 2012. The developed countries DO have the resources. Its only a question of political will. Remember, the several billions needed is only a small drop in the bucket compared to the SIX trillion dollars lost in the global financial crisis.

Fourth: Science now also tells us that mitigation by developed countries alone will NOT be enough. Developing countries must also DO more, and they must commit to a low carbon development path so that they do not repeat the historical mistakes of industrial countries, and add to the climate problem. We have to be honest that there can be NO climate solution if developing countries do not take part.

In the spirit of thinking outside the box, in September this year Indonesia declared emission reduction target of 26 % from business as usual by 2020, and this can be increased to 41 % with enhanced international assistance. As a non-Annex 1 country, we did NOT have to do this. But we read the stark scientific warnings of the IPCC. So we set our new reduction target, because we wanted to be part of global solution.

And …  Fifth: it is also in the spirit of thinking outside the box I call on all of us, developed and developing countries, to be flexible on the question of MRV. Remember that many industrial countries that were legally bound by Kyoto to cut their emissions did NOT deliver, and in fact their emissions only increased since. We must heed that lesson as we set our sights beyond Kyoto. MRV is not an outrageous idea. If we all set our respective targets, we need to know if we are making progress in reaching those targets.

For our part, Indonesia is willing to have our plans and progress open to MRV by a multilaterally agreed international mechanism. Its time for the game to change a little. We know how important transparency is in this endeavor, because we TOO expect it from others. Some, perhaps many, will have problems meeting these targets. Developing countries have to worry about their development and lifting millions out of poverty, and their budget is quite often strangled by the financial crisis. But that is no reason to avoid transparency. MRV is also needed to ensure that the support funds from developed countries to developing countries are well delivered to meet climate objectives. In saying this, it is critically important for developing nations that MRV does not lead to discriminatory trade measures.

In this connection, Indonesia proposes that there is an international effort to establish a credible count to determine the carbon emissions of each country. Indonesia was once said to be the third largest emitter in the world. There is NOTHING to suggest that such claim is true today. Unless we get the numbers right, we will argue in circles, and it will be difficult for us to have effective plan to deal with global carbon emission.

So these are my five points.

One critical issue pertains to forests. Massive deforestation have taken place in developed countries, so the hope for preserving carbons sinks now hangs on the forests in the developing world.

As we move forward, I appeal to all of you to NOT take forestry nations for granted. Our forests are the key to the global climate solution. We must now inject a NEW economic logic where it is more beneficial for nations and communities to keep the trees UP, than to chop them down.

Forestry nations must have something to gain in committing to “avoided deforestation”. This is why interim financing is critical. REDD PLUS must be part of the global solution. Indonesia has worked hard to promote creative forestry partnerships with Norway, the Republic of Korea, Australia, Germany, Great Britain, Japan and others. We invite others to work with us in this important project to preserve and expand these crucial carbon sinks.

Leaders,
Whatever we do here, the bottom line is whether at the end of the day we will all meet our political and moral responsibility and do what is practically necessary to ensure climate stability for future generations and for planet earth.

This is not a time for dogma and confrontation. This a time for solution and consensus. The only dogma that binds us here is : human survival.

So lets seal the deal here in Copenhagen. I thank you.

Source: State Palace
Photo: Reuters