By Ananta K. Wibawa
A new scene marked Indonesia-Iran relation that was the understanding achievement to start cooperation in nuclear technology for humanity interests.
As it was released by ANTARA, Friday (1/10/2010) that in a meeting between the President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and the Chairman of the Commission I of The Parliament of The Islamic Republic of Iran, Alaedin Broujerdi, who was also Presiden Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s special envoy, they welcome about a possibility of Indonesia to alternate it’s new energy sources like nuclear technology, similar as ever been mentioned by Vice President Budiono. In related to that, as it was delivered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marty Natalegawa, after the meeting, President SBY asserted Indonesia’s attitude to support the right of every nation in nuclear test utilize for peaceful purposes, including Iran.
Previously known that some controversy regarding Iran’s effort to develop its nuclear technology has extended, especially to Israel and numerous western nations led by US. A controversy triggered by a suspicion that Iran will develop its nuclear technology to produce the weapon of mass destruction (WMD) that shall be used against Israel and those who oppose to Iran.
Property of Rebel News.
Indonesia’s View Points Regarding Iran’s Position in Nuclear Technology Issue
As a nation that follows the principle of "free and active" foreign policy, Indonesia clearly based its actions on international laws that guarantee of a world order based on freedom, lasting peace and social justice, including in Iran’s nuclear issue.
The existence of Indonesia and Iran as parties of Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) can be legal basis to both nations in conducting cooperation of nuclear technology for peace purposes. NPT itself purposes assertive to eliminate nuclear weaponry which exist (nuclear disarmament) and to prevent new nations to develop their nuclear technology for military purposes. On the other side, NPT also guarantee right of nations to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, as long as it is conducted in transparent and accountable manners, orderly commit to the monitoring and verifying system of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in appropriate to “safeguard agreements”. Based on those, the Indonesia government has tried to attitude proportionally in understanding Iran’s nuclear issue that results so many discourses in various world hemispheres.
Bushehr Reactor of Iran. Constructed by Siemens.
Property of GlobalSecurity.org
The attitude of Indonesia became important measurement toward the conducting of the United Nations (UN) Security Council’s effort to vote Resolution 1747 on March 24, 2007, more over Indonesia’s position, that time, as a member of the Security Council for period of January 1, 2007 until December 31, 2008.
In its capacities as a party of NPT, a member of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and a member of UN Security Council, Indonesia has done various diplomacy efforts and investigations to track various possibilities in Iran’s nuclear issue. The conclusion gained by Indonesian government indicated that the main problem in Iran’s nuclear issue is not about Iran’s right to develop its nuclear technology, but how the right to develop it for peaceful purposes is implemented in transparent and accountable manners appropriate in each engagement which Iran has made to various international agreements as a sovereign nation.
The Government of Indonesia and Iran, that time, had been agreeing two important matters related to Iran’s nuclear technology development. First, that its development processes for peaceful purposes, including its uranium enrichment process has not conducted in transparent and accountable manners under technical monitoring of IAEA as the authority agency. It could be understood, remembering the political situation and condition in Iran, since the fall of Shah Iran, always being in tension with numerous nations in Gulf Region, made Iran’s effort to develop its nuclear technology along 20 years carried out under cover, whereas on certain stage, uranium enrichment process can be easily altered into military purposes (dual use). This is it that results suspicion to many parties. Second, Indonesia agreed with Iran in asserting necessity to disarm nuclear weapons for some nations that already had those.
President SBY & President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
in a special meeting discussed Iran's Nuclear Program.Jakarta May 10, 2006
Property of Dudi Anung - Presidential Secretary
Therefore, Indonesia openly admitted in various forums that Indonesia fully supported Iran’s right to develop its nuclear technology, but in transparent and accountable manners. The Iran’s right is guaranteed by international laws in forms of various agreements. While that right actually also the right belongs to many other development nations.
Indonesia’s support to that UN Security Council resolution just gave after previously the Security Council accepted Indonesia’s proposal to add some amendments regarding, First, the obligation of nuclear weapon nations to disarm their nuclear weaponry, Second, the formation of a free nuclear region in Middle East, Third, asserting right to every nation to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and Fourth, the negotiation between Iran and European Union carried out in good intention.
Some Expected Consequences of This Cooperation
The Indonesia’s status in partnership with Iran can be a guarantee to international community that Iran’s nuclear program obviously dedicated to peaceful purposes and humanity benefits. This is inherited of Indonesia’s membership in NAM and Indonesia’s status as one of NPT parties.
According to one of NAM principles, Indonesia opposes to development efforts and ownerships in nuclear weaponry. NAM National Summit Declaration in Havana on September 16, 2006, highlighted once again an exclamation to nuclear disarmament and prohibition of development, production, ownership and storage of those weapons. The Declaration also prompted nations to form free nuclear weaponry regions in various world hemispheres, including in Middle East. Meanwhile NPT mission, as previously described, also appropriate with that NAM principle.
President SBY & President Ahmadinejad among other leaders of
the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC)
along the 11th Summit in Dakar Senegal
From the perspective of trust balancing among nations that have majority Islam believers in Middle East Region, or members of the International Islamic Conference, Indonesia’s status as a nation with the largest Islamic community in the world, but rooted on plurality, obviously have special quality as a representative of the Islamic world to be equal partner with Iran, simultaneously expected to be able in guarding that cooperation in order not to adverse the integrity of international Islamic community. It is no more secret, although Iran well known as an Islamic nation, but not all of nations that have majority Islam believers in Middle East Region can always agree with every single political step of Iran. This is one of important values of the Indonesia’s status in that cooperation.
The most important, this cooperation is also expected shall be an opportunity to solve alternative energy problems which are very needed by both nations. In the same manner as ever been indicated by the Head of Cooperation, Legal and Public Relation Bureau of the National Nuclear Agency, Ferhat Azis, that it has been going on a trend of more difficult and more expensive of fossil fuels amid the threat of global warming, while nuclear has been known as a friendly environment option, thus ”the Nuclear Reinassance” is predicted will come to reality. Therefore, various international cooperation are needed to promote in ensuring that the extension of nuclear energy utilize will be conducted in safety and secure condition without incurring proliferation of nuclear weaponry.
-AKW-
