VIVAnews - The appointment of Marty Natalegawa as the new Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister is considered appropriate. Natalegawa is not only expected to increase the achievements of former minister, Hassan Wirajuda—who led the Foreign Affairs Department for 8 years—but also creating innovations in Indonesia’s diplomacy.
The expectation was put on by several Indonesian international political observers interviewed by VIVAnews. Together with other officials, Natalegawa was initiated by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as one of the members of Indonesia Unite Cabinet for the period of 2009-2014 at the State Palace in Jakarta on Thursday, October 22.
Dr Rizal Sukma assumes Natalegawa deserves to be granted the position. “He’s only 46 years old and has enough experience in diplomatic field. I think Dr Natalegawa is the right figure to continue Hassan Wirajuda’s work and bring new hopes for Indonesia’s international diplomatic world,” Sukma, who is the Executive Director of Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said.
According to Sukma, while helming the Foreign Affairs Department for eight years, Wirajuda has successfully created bright young diplomats like Natalegawa through improvement implemented in the organization.
International relations observer from the Parahyangan University, Dr Anak Agung Banyu Perwita is in line with Sukma. “He’s been through everything. He has much experiences and he has a really good capacity,” he said.
Natalegawa’s career has been rising rapidly. Five years ago, the public knew him as the spokesperson of Foreign Affairs Department. Later the man, who was born in Bandung on March 22, 1963, served as the General Director of ASEAN cooperation in the department before finally left for England to work as the Indonesian Ambassador on November 11, 2005.
On September 5, 2007, the holder of PhD degree from the Australian National University was trusted to become Indonesia’s Permanent Representative in the UN in New York and once led the UN Security Council Meeting. In the beginning of the week, Natalegawa was asked by Yudhoyono to become the new Foreign Affairs Minister.
Perwita thinks Natalegawa’s young age would not be a problem. “US President, Barack Obama is also still 40 something. This is something new because Marty will be more mobile and there will be more innovations in the diplomatic world,” he said.
Meanwhile, Indonesian diplomatic observer, Dr Dinna Wisnu expects Natalegawa to be able to resume internal reform in the department. “Hassan Wirajuda has established a huge foundation by doing structural reform in the Foreign Affairs Department which enables the creation of young qualified diplomats. But, the process took years and the new minister should continue by making innovations, “Wisnu said.
The Director of Diplomatic Science Postgraduate Program at Paramadina University also hopes Natalegawa could continue Indonesia’s diplomatic career on some of the issues that have gained global attention such as environmental and democratic issues.
Another expectation is that for Natalegawa to be able to balance multilateral and bilateral diplomatic approaches. “If I’m not mistaken, Marty said he would be focusing multilateral diplomacy. But I think bilateral relationships are also important and will be even more important in the future,” Perwita said.
Bilateral and multilateral diplomacy is indeed inseparable. “But, multilateral approaches require more sophisticated abilities because there are various issues and actors involved,” Perwita said.
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Translated by: Nataya Ermanti
