RIA Novosti's interview with Indonesian Vice-President Yusuf Kalla
Q. Could you say a few words about present-day Indonesian-Russian contacts in all areas - the economy, politics and culture?
A. Russia is a country of crucial importance to Indonesia. Our bilateral relations have had their ups and downs. There was a time when they thrived, and then they came to a decline. Now they are reviving again. The progress of bilateral contacts runs parallel to the development of each of the two countries, and our economic and political links are getting closer. What matters most now is the restoration of economic ties.
Q. Russian-Indonesian trade has already reached a billion dollars this year, according to Russian statistics. What do Indonesian experts expect?
A. Approximately the same. Indonesia exports many commodities essential to Russia-in particular, palm oil. There are plans for mineral and other exports. We share commercial progress, so our statistics coincide, to an extent.
Q. Which field of bilateral partnership do you consider crucial?
A. It depends on each party's demands - what Indonesia needs, and what Russia wants to buy and where to invest. Indonesia and Russia are making good economic progress. As my country develops economically, it will need more Russian machines and technologies. We are also negotiating with Russia the possibility of purchasing arms and military equipment, while Russia imports palm oil. Indonesia exported garments and minerals to Russia in the past. So every field has chances for progress.
Q. What do you think about Indonesian-Russian political partnership?
A. The two countries' opinions largely coincide, as many international forums prove. Russia and Indonesia always support initiatives of Asian and African countries and the nonaligned movement. This has been so since times long past, though the situation has changed now. Indonesian and Russian stances on Iran, for instance, have much in common. There are many areas in foreign politics where the two countries support each other.
As for domestic policy, Russia has turned into an open country of rapid economic development, while Indonesia - also an open democracy - is younger in this respect.
Q. Indonesia and Russia have much in common - vast territories, multi-ethnicity, many religions and languages. You exemplify one of these features - the first vice-president who comes from the Buginese of South Sulawesi, aren't you?
A. There was also Bacharuddin Yusuf Habibie [the third Indonesian president]. He wasn't a Buginese, though - he was just born in South Sulawesi. Indonesia is a very pluralistic state. It must achieve harmony through granting equal opportunities to its entire population, to all people, who are so unlike each other. This is the only way to attain the development of all regions on the basis of justice. That is the crux of Indonesian experience of strengthening the state-development of all regions on the basis of justice.
Q. Do you intend to give Russians a better idea of the entire wealth of traditional Indonesian cultures?
A. Indonesian studies used to be on university curricula in Russia, as far as I know. Now, I see many Russian tourists whenever I come to Bali. They get firsthand experience of Indonesian culture, which means they appreciate it.
Russian is spoken in many shops in Bali, and there are many guide courses there. This means Russians have every chance to get to know Indonesian culture better, and this knowledge will promote cultural exchanges.
Q. But then, Bali is only one of the 33 Indonesian provinces, while 90% of Russian visitors don't go anywhere else. Is this fair?
A. This is natural-Bali is the best-known of Indonesian tourist resorts. But we already have a Beyond Bali program. There is a pressing problem-to reinstate direct Indonesian-Russian flights. Aeroflot used to have this route. Travelling would be much easier if such flights reappeared. But even as it is, Russian tourism has rather a large scale, judging by what I see in Bali. The Russians who come to Indonesia are generally well off, and can afford long holidays.
Q. Let us turn to interreligious accord. The Russian Muslim community is 20 million strong. Din Shamsuddin, the head of the Muhammadiyah, Indonesia's largest Muslim public organization, recently made his third or even fourth visit to Russia within several years. What are the opportunities for bilateral cooperation in religion?
A. Let us take a broader historical view. Many prominent Muslim activists were born in the Soviet Union - in Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and other former Soviet republics. These countries and a greater part of Russia have lasting Islamic traditions. So this kind of cooperation may take the form of student exchange. I also know that Din Shamsuddin has visited Russia, where he took part in a seminar on religion and pluralism.
The factor of freedom is also essential. Russia, just as Indonesia, is now more open than in the past, so such cooperation may achieve an ever higher level through visit exchanges, studying from each other and, possibly, joint programs - for instance, research and social efforts. They can proceed within one religion or be interreligious - the former pattern is of equal importance.
Q. You head the Golkar, the largest and strongest of Indonesian political parties. It is going through reforms. Do you see opportunities for interparty cooperation of Indonesia and Russia?
A. Parties are pillars of democracy. So, if parties, especially large ones, start cooperation, it will spectacularly promote interstate partnership. This is why the Golkar Party has many times exchanged visits with Russia's ruling parties, and is eager to do so in the future. It helps to understand the background against which Russia is developing.
Q. What would you like to say to RIA Novosti readers in conclusion?
A. Indonesia cherishes its long-established links with Russia. Now, our contacts should rise to a new level, mainly in the economic sphere as firm economic contacts make a basis for lasting relations. So may Indonesian and Russian entrepreneurs establish good links in trade and investment.
(Interview conducted by RIA Novosti's Mikhail Tsyganov, Jakarta)
