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RI's new envoy to Ukraine vows to boost economic ties
Diplomacy was a man's world until recently
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Diplomacy was a man's world until recently. Women, who constitute half of the world's population, have slowly but surely made their way to the highest positions in diplomacy. Indonesia is no exception to this global trend.
Indonesia's new ambassador to Ukraine Nining Suningsih Roechadiat, says gender is no longer an issue in modern-day diplomacy.
"More and more women are joining the foreign service. Gender equality is very good in the Indonesian Foreign Ministry. We have three women in the highest rungs of the ministry now," Ambassador Nining told The Jakarta Post in a recent interview in Jakarta.
Nining epitomizes an Indonesian woman. She is a religious person and wears Islamic attire. Like most Indonesians, she mixes religion with modernity. She sent her three children to the Netherlands for their education. She gave the interview at a Starbucks coffee shop in one of Jakarta's posh malls.
Nining, who joined the Foreign Ministry in 1975, has worked in Britain and Singapore and has held several positions at the Foreign Ministry and the Office of the State Minister for Women's Empowerment.
Though this is her first ambassadorial assignment, Nining is confident she can accomplish her mission in Ukraine. She is also concurrently overseeing diplomatic relations with Georgia and Armenia. These three countries were all members of the former Soviet Union and are Christian majority states.
"My main mission is to strengthen Indonesia's overall relationship, mainly in economic, political and cultural fields, with Ukraine, Georgia and Armenia. I am confident that I will accomplish my mission," Nining said.
Ukraine, the largest country in Europe, with 46 million people, is a potential alternative market for Indonesian products, Nining said.
"Last year, our trade with Ukraine increased to US$1.40 billion, an increase of 58.4 percent from $888.98 million in 2007. This is a huge amount," Nining said.
But the balance of trade is heavily in favor of Ukraine.
"My first and foremost duty is to increase our exports to Ukraine, so we have a balanced trade. At the same time we need Ukrainian products for our economic development," said Nining.
In 2008, Indonesia exported $483.86 million worth of goods, mainly palm oil, coffee, tea, plastic, cocoa, spices, electrical equipment, textiles and furniture to Ukraine. From Ukraine, in the same year, Indonesia imported $924.27 million worth of goods, mainly iron, steel products and wheat.
Nining said Ukraine had huge potential with highly sophisticated heavy industries like steel, military hardware, space technology, fertilizers and modernized agriculture. Ukraine also has the finest quality gunpowder, which the Indonesian military requires.
Indonesia, Nining said, recognized Ukraine's independence in 1992 and established diplomatic relations with the country in 1993. Jakarta opened its embassy in Kiev in 1994, while Ukraine opened its embassy in Jakarta in 1996.
However, Nining's goals may be challenged by the global financial strain. Ukraine is one of the countries worst hit by the crisis. Its economy, which is heavily dependent on exports, may contrast by 13 percent this year.
"We will not lose hope. As a diplomat, we have to look at all possibilities in order to achieve our target," Nining said.
During her tenure in Ukraine, Nining intends to focus on enhancing economic ties, defense cooperation and promoting Indonesia in Ukraine.
"Ukrainian tourists are big spenders in Indonesia. We should promote Indonesia in Ukraine more," Nining said.
To make her job easier, she wants to learn the Ukrainian and Russian languages.
Ukraine and Georgia both have serious problems with Russia; Armenia, on the other hand, is in conflict with its neighbor Azerbaijan.
Commenting on Indonesia's position on these problems, Nining said Indonesia would follow the United Nations' principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
"We will follow the international norms and principles. For example, in the case of Georgia, we want both Russia and Georgia to solve their problems through peaceful negotiations," Nining said.
Indonesia has a unique position on Armenia.
"Armenia violated the international principle of territorial integrity by occupying Azerbaijan's territory *Nagorno-Karabakh*. The United Nations passed a resolution against Armenia. We follow the UN and at the same time we want both Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve their problems through peaceful means," Nining said.
Ukrainian Embassy Charge d'Affaires Serhii L. Tarhonii told the Post on Monday that both Indonesia and Ukraine would attend an important meeting in Jakarta on Tuesday.
"Indonesia is hosting the second session of the Intergovernmental Indonesian-Ukrainian Commission on Economic and Technical Cooperation to strengthen relations between the two countries. Our delegation is already in Jakarta for the meeting," Tarhonii said.
