Marty Natalegawa took over the job of foreign minister from Hassan Wirajuda in President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's second United Indonesia. The arrival of one of the "young guns" at the Foreign Ministry is welcomed by the country's foreign policy community. We expect to see a new style, a new perspective and a new spirit from a new foreign minister.
Many had earlier expected that Marty Natalegawa would be in command of the ministry. His reputation, as the former Indonesian ambassador to United Kingdom, the United Nations and spokesperson of the ministry, brings him to get the credit he now deserves.
The former US secretary of state Dean Acheson once reminded that "some work in progress we were able to carry through, home and abroad; other matters languished, while the great external realm waited to see what manner of man follow us".
Thus, what we expect to see from Marty's leadership is how his talents are to be put into effect. Marty should see that our foreign policy in the next five years must be built upon pragmatic, realistic and rational thought.
There is no doubt that Pak Hassan has succeeded in making and directing our foreign policy to the way it is now, particularly during the time in which the country is experiencing democracy. Marty will continue to send the message to the world community that democracy, Islam and modernity will coexist peacefully in Indonesia.
Marty well knows the great achievements we have had in our foreign policy. He also knows what needs to be continued in foreign policy and what is still to be done.
We do not expect Marty to initiate any sudden basic shifts and changes in foreign policy, because it would only cause confusion in the implementation of our foreign policy.
President Yudhoyono, in his inaugural speech, outlined the country's foreign policy objectives for the next five years: to continue a free and active foreign policy, to be friends with all countries, and to overcome the impacts of climate change. This in fact is not a new thing in our foreign policy.
Marty, however, will still need to mobilize resources so as to be able to translate those objectives into reality. Here, what Marty needs is stronger teamwork perhaps, where he needs to listen to his aides and accommodate the perspectives of others within his department.
It is to suggest that a cautious, but flexible and pragmatic approach in our foreign policy needs to be employed, meaning that a "temperamental" (and not characteristic of Marty) way of addressing foreign policy issues will result in skepticism that our foreign policy will achieve its objectives.
Marty witnessed the bureaucratic reform initiated by Hassan Wirajuda at the ministry. Such a reform has not only sharpened the aims of our foreign policy, but also resulted in a more effective handling of the country's foreign policy issues. As the country's chief diplomat, Marty needs to-maintain the spirit of reform and empower the resources there so that the pace of the implantation of our foreign policy can be maintained.
Given the progressive development in the international scene, and Indonesia will continue to be part of it, it is imperative for Marty to initiate a much more proactive policy in a way that reflects the linkage between the domestic and the international setting of foreign policy. That is to say that Marty needs to be able to accurately identify our foreign policy strategic issues that emanate from both domestic and international settings.
So, Marty's position as a new foreign minister is out to prove not only our political existence and credibility in handling national and international problems, but also our commitment to be continually part of international collaboration.
Marty will need to see Indonesian foreign policy from a wider perspective and realize the new elements in our foreign policy, whereas before he was only occupied more with the United Nations-Indonesia-related issues.
The arrival of Marty as our chief diplomat will hopefully provide impetus for his ministry to be more alert and more progressive of the country's attempt to explore opportunities provided by the globalization era and strengthen Indonesia's world role and position.
Marty is certainly not alone in the foreign policy domain. He will have to move forward as a team and put aside egoism, if any. Not only that. He will have to capitalize on the modalities that have been put in place by Pak Hassan.
The writer is senior researcher at the Indonesian Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and a lecturer at President University.
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