French perception toward Indonesia to remain constant under Sarkozy: Envoy

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 07/14/2007 2:14 PM

Veeramalla Anjaiah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

With a recent change in government and a new foreign minister, France looks set to experience change in the near future. However, it remains to be seen if there will be a shift in France's perception toward Indonesia.

French Ambassador to Indonesia Catherine Boivineau, a relative newcomer to the post, said it is unlikely there will be major changes in France's relationship with Indonesia.

""On the whole, I don't think so. There will not be any major change in our foreign policy. However, generally speaking, of course, with a change of (leadership), you can have a change in style,"" Ambassador Boivineau told The Jakarta Post in a recent interview at her office in Jakarta.

While there might be new answers to old questions, she said, there will not be any change to the substance of France's relationship with Indonesia.

""Our foreign minister comes from a leftist party. It shows that there is a consensus on foreign policy. So there will be continuity,"" Boivineau said, referring to new Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.

Kouchner, the founder of Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), is a member of the Socialist Party. He is also well known for his efforts defending Muslim communities in Yugoslavia and Iraq, both suppressed by socialist regimes.

For his part, new French President Nicolas Sarkozy made his first official trip outside Europe this week to Algeria and Tunisia with the intention of strengthening ties between France and the two predominately Muslim North African countries.

Boivineau said France, with one of the largest Muslim populations in Europe, wants to avoid confrontation among religions and cultures.

""We don't want confrontation between two different cultures. People from different religions must live in harmony and respect other religions. Our new Prime Minister Francois Fillon clearly said that there will not be any discrimination in France.""

The ambassador said bilateral ties between France and Indonesia could be strengthened with the dissemination of information in France on the latest situation in Indonesia.

""Since the 1998 Asian (economic) crisis, Indonesia has been a little bit forgotten by the French people. We have to work to help people in France have a better view of the actual situation in Indonesia,"" she said.

Politically and economically, Indonesia is beginning to play a more extensive role in the region, Boivineau said. Indonesia is also playing a bigger role in world politics as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

""We have lots of reasons to have stronger dialog with Indonesia. We have to organize regular dialog at all levels, including in the private sector, between France and Indonesia,"" she said.

She also hopes to expand cooperation between the two countries in the fields of education and culture.

""Prior to 1997, a lot of Indonesian students studied in France. Now that number has come down. We want to increase the number to the pre-crisis level,"" Boivineau said.

In the economic sector, relations are progressing in the right direction.

Last year, bilateral trade jumped to US$1.67 billion from $1.33 billion in 2005.

The number of French investments in Indonesia is also growing, standing at over US$900 million this year, the ambassador said.

""This doesn't include our investments in the oil and gas sectors,"" she said, adding that French oil and gas giant Total is planning to invest $1.5 billion in Indonesia.

Food producer Danone will also soon invest around $100 million to expand its operations here.

There is also a large French investment project set to commence in the mining sector in North Maluku soon.

""Our mining company Eramet SA is currently conducting a feasibility study in Halmahera in North Maluku regarding a nickel mine. Their investment in that project would be around $2 billion, the biggest French investment in Indonesia"" Boivineau said.

She hopes more French investors will come to the country in the near future.

""We want to attract more French investors here. But we feel that there are still some agitations because the legal and judicial environment is still not clear.""

However, the passing of the Investment Law, she said, is a positive step, as is the government's fight against corruption.

""We are waiting for government decrees to implement the Investment Law. We are also waiting for the (new) tax law and labor law. I know the passing of the labor law is a difficult issue,"" Boivineau said.

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