W

hile conceding that its efforts might have a limited impact on the Middle East, the government has aimed high in its diplomatic efforts to address the tension in Syria amid possible military action by the US.

The latest efforts by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono included direct calls to like-minded nations as well as all members of the UN Security Council, to seek an alternative solution amid the opacity of the UN's diplomatic efforts.

'Indonesia has been sending letters to leaders of like-minded nations, including ASEAN members and major players in the Asia Pacific and Latin America, as well as UN Security Council members,' presidential spokesman for foreign affairs Teuku Faizasyah told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Indonesian Ambassador to the US, Dino Patti Djalal, said he delivered a letter to the White House on Monday.

'Indonesia always wants a peaceful resolution. This is not about supporting or not supporting the US' planned military efforts. While the world can avoid being split or more polarized, why don't we talk and seek non-military approaches? The point is stopping the conflicts,' Faizasyah said, adding that any form of military action could create more uncertainty in the region.

Among Indonesia's proposals to address the Syrian conflict were an enforced cease-fire and the deployment of international peacekeepers to monitor the process, according to Faizasyah. 'The suggestions were also conveyed [by the President] when he met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia, last week,' he said.

Indonesia also expects its proposals to be discussed in the second US-Russia backed Geneva con-
ference on Syria. 'We hope the next conference is more open and involves more participation,' he said.

Analysts have said that Indonesia should have been able to do more regarding Syria given the country's growing power and influence in many international forums.

Indonesia's rejection of the US' planned military action could be bolstered by intensive diplomatic efforts, utilizing Yudhoyono's growing international leverage, Hikmahanto Juwana, an international law professor from the University of Indonesia, said.

'The government could also talk to Russia, despite Moscow's support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad,' he told the Post.

'In politics, there are no enemies nor are there friends. There are shared interests,' Hikmahanto said when asked if the Indonesia-Russia talks could give the impression that Jakarta supported Assad.

Hikmahanto said that Indonesia could capitalize on its prominence in the Middle East, given the country's status as the largest Muslim-majority nation in the world.

But Faizasyah said that there were obstacles when it came to problems in the Middle East.

'There are too many actors in the region,' he said. 'Indonesia has power but there are limitations. This region is naturally a difficult one where we are encumbered by many things before we can do something directly.'

Faizasyah also said that Indonesia had sent messages to Russia during the G20 meeting.

'Indonesia conveyed its position in the summit and there were also leaders of members of the UN Security Council who have vetoes, including Russia. So, I believe Moscow is aware of Yudhoyono's middle-way solution,' he said.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday that Assad could avoid a military strike by turning over all his chemical weapons within a week, but immediately made clear he was sure that would never happen, Reuters reported.

In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Syrian counterpart, Walid al-Moallem, met and called for the return of UN inspectors to Syria to continue their probe into the alleged use of chemical weapons, The Associated Press reported.

Lavrov said UN chemical weapons experts should complete their probe and present their findings to the UN Security Council.

Al-Moallem said his government was ready to host the UN team, and insisted that Syria was ready to use all channels to convince the US that it was not behind the attack.

He added that Syria was ready for 'full cooperation with Russia to remove any pretext for aggression.'

Neither minister, however, offered any evidence to back their claim of rebel involvement in the chemical attack.