President SBY: We have to change many things fundamentally to have a better future

Ms. Park Soo-Jin, Arirang TV : This week on Diplomacy Lounge, we have a special guest, Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who made his first state visit to Korea. Mr. President, thank you for taking this time to speak with us.

President of the Republic of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY): You’re welcome.

Arirang TV: Now, with the summit with President Roh Moo-hyun in this whole comes all several months after the Jakarta Summit where the two of you declare the strategic partnership and I understand that you made number of agreements during two days summit to help carry out our partnership. Could you tell us some the highlights from this agreement?

President SBY: Yes, when I met Presiden Roo Moo-hyun, e-xpressed my satisfaction because our bilateral cooperation as progressing well especially after we signed the declaration of strategic partnership between the two countries. And we agreed many things, we also e-xpand our cooperation in many fields, in investment, trade, energy, infrastructure building and others. And in two days summit, we actually committed to further implementing what we have a great before. So in conclusion, I would like to say that this summit is very constructive, very productive, we agreed many things, not only agreement, but we implement all agreements into real actions. And it will benefit surely for the both Korea and Indonesia.

Arirang TV: I see. Mr. President, one of the priority you set out right from your beginning of your presidency 2004 was to make Indonesia a prosperous nation by establishing a stable macro economic framework for development. How was that proposal come along and with which Korea factors do you see the potentials for preparation to reach those goals?

President SBY: That’s correct. Our challenge is to stimulate our growth, sustainable growth, to maintain our macro economic stability, to reduce poverty and to create more jobs for our people. And we actually launch what so-called a triple track strategy, a stimulating growth through e-xport and investment, generating real sector, to create more employement and to revitalize our agricultural and rural development to reduce poverty. So I should say that strategy is pro growth, pro job and pro poor. And with Korea under the strategic partnership, we could develop more. We welcome Korean enterprises for cooperating with us in Indonesia, Korea has capital, financial capital, technology, know how and we could combine potentian then our cooperation will generate our economy in general. And later on, base cooperation will also achieve our economic objectives. So, I should say that our cooperation is really very much inline with our own objective in achieving economic development. And I believe very strongly, will benefit also to Korea as well as Korean companies.

Arirang TV: Well, turning to Indonesia’s status in international arena which appears to be growing. In January this year, Indonesia joined the UN Security Council as the Non-Permanent Member. On what issues that Indonesia want to make the most impact ... your term?

President SBY: Yes Indonesia wants to play better roles in international arena. We are obliged to be part of the global action in maintaing peace, stability and security across the globe... We have to have a voice, a great of voice in The UN Security Council to the decision making process. And Indonesia is hoping that we could play role more and for example ending conflict in the Middle East, solving problem of the so-called security in the Korean Peninsula and other conflict areas. Indonesia will of course e-xpress her opinion properly and we do hope with our contribution the decision taken by the United Nations will be a proper, addresing the real issues on the ground. So Indonesia will continue to do so in making of course our world saver, a better and more prospeous.

Arirang TV: I see. Well, Mr. President, I understand you e-xpress interest in taking on media involved to help settled North Korean nuclear issue, taking advantage of your country’s ties with both Korea. But your previous plan to meet North Korean Leader, Kim Jong-Il in Phongyang were cancelled. At this point, do you have any plan to visit North Korea?

President SBY: Yes, ... quite clear. Indonesia wants a stable, a peaceful of Korean Peninsula. We do hope also that any security issues can be solved peacefully, diplomatically. And we welcome the progress of the Six-Party Talks, we welcome the closer of the nuclear arsenal in North Korea. And I do hope that everything is moving well. I maintain my communication with government of North Korea, I dispatch my special envoy to meet the leader of North Korea and I send a peer message that Indonesia want to be part of the solution, if Indonesia is asked, we are willing to complement to the ongoing of peace talk now to ... for e-xample a dialogue and communication between DPRK are ok. So Indonesia will continue to do so, maintaining a good relationship with Republic of Korea and also maintaing our communication with North Korea with the aim or having again wise and peaceful solution in this region.

Arirang TV: I see. Well it seems like the Korean Peninsula is not the only tra-ce where Jakarta can e-xercise its diplomatic influence. Indonesia has the world largest moslem population, giving that fact and Indonesia’s effort to ... up terrorism in wake up the Bali Bombing 2002, do you see posibilities for Indonesia to take on a unique role to better engage the Islamic world of other cultures?

President SBY: Yes actually we have engaged continously with our friends in the Middle East and we maintain our cooperation and communication with all Islamic countries. And our view is quite clear that actually Islam must be able living together with democracy and modernity. We want a moderate Islam, we want a peaceful Islam, the true teaching of Islam. This spirit encourage Indonesia to engange properly with other nation in relation of, for e-xample Islam and West relation. So, Indonesia will continue playing role in reaching the West and Islam in facilitating inter-faith dialogue, inter-civilazation dialogue and others. Because for me, we could always find proper solution in any problem. With that spirit, this is correct, Indonesia is a country with the biggest moslem population will continue playing roles in again, having a better relation between Islam, Islamic countries and the rest.

Arirang TV: Now, I can caught about bring out the latest hostage taking of Korean volunteer workers in Afghanistan, ... the rules of diplomacy don’t always applied. What is you take on the situation?

President SBY: Firstly, I feel very sad to hear that one of Korean Citizen has been killed in Afghanistan. I watched television this morning. I did say, Prime Minister Korea yesterday and even before President Roh Moo-hyun on this issue. I do hope that negotiation can be continued. And I appeal also the release of the hostages, and I do hope that all hostage can be free and return home safely. And I have the view that we have to continue negotiation, lobby, meeting with all ... to release all hostages. And I always believe that there is an opportunity, there is always room to continue negotiation and lobby that things that I would like set Indonesia stand ready to be part of this solution, to help our brothers, citizen of Korea to do what we can do in freeing the hostages.

Arirang TV: Let’s hope that the hostages will be released safely soon.

President SBY: Yes, we’re hoping this as well.

Arirang TV: Well now, let’s talk a little bit about your vision as the leader, among the Indonesian public, you widely known as the thinking general and became Indonesia first directly elected President. I understand you wrote a book called vision for change, a kind of manifesto for the future of Indonesia. Could you tell us about that visions and what ... are for other country?

President SBY: Yes, firstly I have to say that Indonesia is in a great transformation now a days. Indonesia is on the move. We have to change many things fundamentally to have a better future. But I realize fully that there are many challenges, resistents and problems. But we are conducting a chance. But I have to go through, the show must go on, that’s why I try with all stakeholders in Indonesia with other national component in Indonesia to continue this reform, democratization and rebuilding our economy after the crisis.

What we are doing now is to build better governance, good governance, is to maintain our national unity, national cohesion, reforming all policies, regulations, the economic policies, social policies, security and others. And it is, in my vision that we have to be part of the global community with our own sovereignty, our own identities and value. With that I believe very strongly, Indonesia will change for the better by endeavouring this speed journey. And I will be part of this journey and now given a mandate to lead our nation. So I will do my best in changing Indonesia for the better future.

Arirang TV: Well, if I may at this point, talk a little about man behind the presidency, I understand that to you and your family, Korea may held the special meaning given that your father in law was the first Indonesian Ambassador to Korea and that you visited Korea at among that time on your twenty. Would you like to share your memory ... e-xperiences with us?

President SBY: I visited firstly Seoul in 1976, and when I went back to Korea in 2005 attending APEC Meeting in Busan, I was so surprised that Korea is progressing dramatically, everything is changing. You are becoming the properous nation, the advanced nation with a high technology in your disposal. So, I have to learn a lot from your country and my wife told me as well that even she had been here for almost 2 years back in the 1970s, she also surprised with the dramatic change and progress that she sees here in Korea. So, of course both my wife and I are proud to be friend of Korea and we are please to develop this cooperation and friendship and hopely with that memory, we could do better in fostering our bilateral friendship and cooperation.

Arirang TV: Well, we will come to the end of today interview. We appreciate your sharing, your insights and personal story with us.

President SBY: You’re welcome.

Arirang TV: Once again Mr. President, thank you for taking the time out of your visit schedule here in Korea to stick with us. It’s been a pleasure having you in our programme.

President SBY: You’re welcome.

Arirang TV: This is end Diplomacy Lounge with our guest, Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Thank you for watching.
Interview Arirang TV, South Korea, With President of The Republic of Indonesia, July 26, 2007 (www.rainbowdiplomacy.com/www.presidenri.go.id)