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Discourse: France, Indonesia to march forward in the face of adversity

Jean Marc Ayrault - Courtesy of CCF With geopolitical uncertainty taking root in most corners of the globe, it is up to the leaders in each region to set positive examples in tackling the complex issues of today

The Jakarta Post
Mon, February 27, 2017

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Discourse: France, Indonesia to march forward in the face of adversity

Jean Marc Ayrault - Courtesy of CCF

With geopolitical uncertainty taking root in most corners of the globe, it is up to the leaders in each region to set positive examples in tackling the complex issues of today. The bilateral forum is one of many platforms for setting the right tone in international cooperation. In anticipation of one such meeting between France and Indonesia on Tuesday, The Jakarta Post’s Novan Iman Santosa got in touch with French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault to uncover the ideas behind his visit. The following are excerpts from the interview:

Q: How do you see relations between France and Indonesia?

A: My visit today and the [French] president’s visit next month demonstrate the quality of relations between France and Indonesia and our shared desire to make them even closer.

Both France and Indonesia have a strong influence within our regions and around the world. We have specific responsibilities in building the European Union and ASEAN.

At a global level, we share a commitment to democratic values and multilateral order, which is especially embodied by the United Nations. Since 2011, our two countries have been linked via a strategic partnership. Within this framework, we maintain close, trust-based political dialogue and we are working together on all issues of global importance, whether it be the fight against climate change, the Middle East peace process or the fight against radical Islam.

Our cooperation has hugely increased in recent years, in the defense, tourism and energy sectors. In the energy sector, for example, French companies have developed expertise in renewables which they want to share. We have agreed to go further in this direction by launching an “export club” to promote French expertise in renewable energy in Indonesia.

France wants to open up new areas of cooperation with Indonesia, e.g. in the area of research and technology. In fact, an agreement will be signed during my visit to Jakarta between the French and Indonesian space agencies (CNES and LAPAN).

What is your opinion of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) currently being negotiated between the EU and Indonesia, in the context of the current widespread opposition to free-trade agreements?

Free trade plays a positive role for growth and economic development. But it must be governed by reciprocity and equity. It must be managed using clearly-defined rules that protect our population and maintain our social models and our health and environmental standards. We can only fight the temptations of protectionism by clearly showing that international trade benefits the majority and does not increase income and wealth inequality.

The agreement currently being negotiated between Indonesia and the EU is strictly speaking much more than a free-trade agreement. Its aim is to bring our technical, environmental and social standards closer to encourage sustainable development in Indonesia and Europe. I hope that the negotiations will conclude as quickly as possible.

How can France and Indonesia work together against the backdrop of a world impacted by the Trump presidency in the United States and Brexit, where the United Kingdom is preparing to invoke Article 50?


Brexit will in no way change the EU’s determination to continue its integration in the interests of peace, security and prosperity. Europe will emerge from this stronger, by becoming more coherent and focusing on essential issues that are of interest to European citizens. The 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome on March 25 next will be an opportunity to give fresh impetus to European construction via concrete projects in the areas of defense, growth and youth. Furthermore, the EU will remain a major stakeholder, which is active and reliable on the international scene, a committed partner to work with Indonesia. This is all the more essential since the election of Donald Trump as president of the US has sparked a period of uncertainty on American policy in many areas.

Will France remain at the heart of the EU, given that the nationalist right is gaining popularity in order to lead France out of the EU?

Of course, France will stay in the EU. It is one of its founding members and pillars. Our people need the EU and tend to ask for more from it — e.g. more protection, which is why we want to strengthen European defense and its ability to ensure the safety of its citizens. The movement to relaunch the European project, which we are currently running must allow us to quickly obtain concrete and visible results for Europeans, particularly in three main fields: security, growth and youth.

What is France’s policy on Islam and Muslims, particularly since France has been the target of several Islamist attacks? How can France and Indonesia cooperate in order to fight terrorism?


As a result of migration to France many years ago, Islam has become the faith of a large number of French people, and France’s second-largest religion with about 5 million people. Muslims play a full role in French society, as France guarantees all its citizens, under the principle of secularism, the freedom to believe or not to believe.

Today, Islam is facing the challenges of radicalization and terrorism. Religion has been instrumentalized to political ends. Its message has been distorted and fanatics have committed horrendous crimes in its name. It is crystal clear: there is no connection whatsoever between the faith of the vast majority of Muslims and the acts of terrorism committed in the name of Islam by isolated individuals. France believes that it is incorrect and dangerous to draw a correlation between terrorism and religion. Naturally, each state is responsible for security on its territory. But we must be careful not to adopt measures, including migratory measures, which on this pretext, could introduce discrimination.

Terrorism is a challenge that affects us all. Last year, it struck once again, both in France and Indonesia. Our democracies were the targets. In the face of these actions, it is essential to condemn all hate speech against Muslims, and against all faiths.

Although the Daesh [Islamic State movement] terrorist group is losing ground in the Middle East because of the work of the international coalition, it is seeking to spread its influence elsewhere, including here in Southeast Asia. We know that a few hundred nationals from this region have gone to fight alongside jihadists in Syria and Iraq, just as others have left Europe to do so. In this context, France is determined to cooperate closely with Indonesia, including to fight against radical Islamist propaganda and against all trafficking that finances terrorism.

This year marks ASEAN’s 50th anniversary. How do you see its current relations with France and the EU? How can these relations be improved?

As prime minister and foreign minister, I have visited most ASEAN countries over the past five years.

With all the upheaval in today’s world, rarely has France and Europe’s relationship with Southeast Asia been as important. Whether it be strengthening human and cultural relations, our political dialogue and our concrete cooperation on global issues or on security, or increasing trade between two regions that between them have over a billion people: there is convergence between the EU, which is the world’s leading economic power, and Southeast Asia, which is an emerging power.

Indonesia, a G20 member with a GDP accounting for 40 percent of total ASEAN GDP, is at the heart of these issues. The creation of the ASEAN Economic Community on Dec. 31, 2015 was a key step for economic, financial and regulatory integration in Southeast Asia. This community can only improve the attractiveness of the region and help increase trade with the EU.

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