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Indonesia

 Flag of Indonesia
Last reviewed: 27 October 2009

Country information

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Relations with Neighbours

As a founding member of ASEAN, and host to its Secretariat, Indonesia has traditionally been seen as the lynchpin of the organisation. Indonesia is keen to promote co-operation with ASEAN countries, particularly on trade and on regional issues such as piracy and smuggling. This co-operation was strengthened following the Tsunami, with ASEAN countries being among the first to provide assistance to Indonesia. Despite disputes with neighbouring countries, including over illegal immigration to Malaysia and overlapping maritime territorial claims, overall Indonesia’s relations with its ASEAN partners remain strong. President Yudhoyono's first official visit after taking office was to Malaysia and Singapore in February 2005.

Indonesia has made significant efforts to improve its relations with East Timor after the violence that followed the popular consultation in East Timor in 1999 and Indonesia's withdrawal. The relationship was boosted by President Megawati's decision to attend East Timor's Independence Day celebrations in Dili on 20 May 2002, despite significant opposition from members of parliament, and President Yudhoyono's visit in April 2005. During this visit, Yudhoyono signed a provisional border agreement with East Timor's Prime Minister Alkatiri, overcoming one of the obstacles to closer relations with East Timor. In 2005 Indonesia and East Timor established a bilateral commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF) “to conduct a shared inquiry with the aim of establishing the conclusive truth about reported human rights violations, and to make recommendations which can contribute to the healing of wounds of the past and lead to a peaceful and prosperous future for both nations”. On 15 July 2008, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and East Timor's President Jose Ramos Horta, received the CTF’s report. In a joint statement they stated that they "accept the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Commission and recognise that gross violations of human rights occurred prior to and immediately after the popular consultation in East Timor in 1999". They also committed to the faithful implementation of the Commission's recommendations. Most analysts have indicated that this report is a positive step forward for the two countries. Whilst no recommendations were made for prosecutions of named individuals in relation to the crimes identified, nor were any amnesties offered.

East Timor Country Profile

Relations with the UK

The UK has strong bilateral relations with Indonesia. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair visited in March 2006, during which time he met President Yudhoyono and agreed "the establishment of a regular Indonesia-UK Partnership Forum to be chaired by the Foreign Ministers, to promote strategic dialogue on bilateral, multilateral and global issues". The first UK-Indonesia Partnership Forum was held in London on 31 January 2007. Former Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett hosted with her Indonesian counterpart, Foreign Minister Wirajuda. Britain has a strong interest in seeing Indonesia develop into a healthy, transparent and stable democracy, in order to strengthen ASEAN and reinforce stability in South East Asia as a whole. Through our Strategic Programme Fund (SPF) the UK supports a number of projects that encourage reform in Indonesia. The SPF also funds projects that advance co-operation in areas of joint interest, such as counter-terrorism and interfaith dialogue. The UK established diplomatic relations with Indonesia in 1949. The British Ambassador in Jakarta is Martin Hatfull. The Embassy offers a full range of services: Commercial, Consular and Immigration. There is also an Honorary Consulate in Denpasar (Bali).

UK Development Assistance to Indonesia

The UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) works closely with the Government of Indonesia and other donors to provide effective development assistance to poor people in Indonesia, with the aim of helping Indonesia meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It also provides humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in response to emergencies. The DFID website can be found at: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/  

Recent Visits

Inward

  • September 2009, Sri Mulyani, Finance Minister, G20 Finance Ministers’ Meeting
  • 30 March – 2 April 2009, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, G20 London Summit accompanied by Dr Hassan Wirajuda, Foreign Minister and Sri Mulyani, Finance Minister
  • 3 March 2008, Dr Hassan Wirajuda, Foreign Minister
  • 15 January 2008, Sri Mulyani, Finance Minister
  • 31 January 2007, UK/Indonesia Partnership Forum. Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade
     

Outward

  • 6-7 May 2009, Mike Foster, DFID Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
  • 9-11 February 2009, Bill Rammell, Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
  • 1-5 November 2008, HRH The Prince of Wales visited Jakarta, Jambi and Yogyakarta
  • 23-26 April 2008, Sir Jock Stirrup, Chief of Defence Staff
  • 13-15 April 2008, Michael Williams, UK Special Representative for Middle East and Special Projects
  • 3-6 March 2008, HRH The Duke of York

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