Russia Expresses Gratitude, France Continues Consultation

TURKISH PRESIDENCY VIA AP, POOL

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses the virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabiain, in a video conference from his Vahdettin Pavilion, in Istanbul, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. Erdogan said Sunday that Turkey sees itself as a part of Europe, but he called on the European Union to “keep your promises” on issues such as the country’s membership bid and refugees.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – A number of Group of Twenty countries are still polarized in their stance on the war in Ukraine. This will be a challenge for Indonesia, which holds the G20 presidency, to realize the G20 agenda as planned towards the most optimal output.

Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Lyudmila Vorobieva, expressed deep gratitude on Monday (21/3/2022) for Indonesia’s balanced approach in its commitments through the G20 presidency. According to her, it was appropriate for Indonesia to follow the agenda it had set. “We deem that including sensitive political issues in the [G20] agenda to be counterproductive,” she said.

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Separately, French Ambassador to Indonesia Olivier Chambard said that France was paying great attention to the G20, as it was an important forum. However, he cautioned that the Russian invasion of Ukraine had dramatic consequences on civil society and that it had impacted the global economy, energy and food. The invasion was a flagrant violation of the principles as set out in the United Nations Charter.

“In this context, we are consulting with Indonesian representatives to determine how the G20 forum will be held, while taking into account Russia’s violation of Ukrainian sovereignty in the scheduled meetings,” he said.

Indonesia holds the G20 presidency this year. As the forum’s chair, Indonesia is responsible for organizing G20 activities that can effectively respond to current and future challenges. From a domestic perspective, the G20 activities are expected to support national development.

This is because the main actors involved in the conflict, as well as their supporters, are also G20 members.

However, the escalating war in Ukraine that began on 24 Feb. 2022 has put Indonesia’s G20 presidency in a tight spot. Conflicting interests and shifts in the political constellation as a result of the Ukraine war have inevitably spread and become reflected in the dynamics of the G20. This is because the main actors involved in the conflict, as well as their supporters, are also G20 members.

Based on information compiled by Kompas, the affairs of Indonesia’s G20 presidency have become complicated, sensitive and highly charged. Indonesia has become caught in a tug-of-war between the interests of the countries involved in the conflict.

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French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a media conference at the G20 summit in Rome, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021. The two-day Group of 20 summit concluded on Sunday, the first in-person gathering of leaders of the world's biggest economies since the COVID-19 pandemic started.

In relation to the G20 leaders who have been affected by the polarization among G20 countries due to the Ukraine conflict, Kompas also contacted the Chinese Embassy in Jakarta. However, the embassy declined to comment, saying that Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Lu Kang would hold a press conference sometime next week. The exact date has yet to be decided.

Kompas also contacted the United States and British embassies in Jakarta for their views, but neither agreed to provide any information.

In a statement dated 12 March, British Ambassador to Indonesia Owen Jenkins expressed pride that the United Kingdom and Indonesia, along with 139 other countries, had supported the resolution at the UN General Assembly to ask Russia to stop its attack on Ukraine. He called the attack on Ukraine a violation of the UN Charter and human rights. “We also oppose Russia’s unwarranted aggression,” he added.

Holding back

International relations lecturer Bambang Cipto from Muhammadiyah University Yogyakarta said Indonesia needed to urge Russia to stop the war immediately. On the other hand, the West should also hold back from pressuring Russia.

Bambang also believed that Russia should be allowed to keep its G20 membership. Stripping a country of its membership could lead to complications.

Indonesia would then need to build the spirit of nonalignment again if there is such pressure, since the situation would be like the Cold War.

“China could gain a reason to be more aggressive because of their strong ties with Russia. Indonesia would then need to build the spirit of nonalignment again if there is such pressure, since the situation would be like the Cold War,” he said.

According to information gathered by Kompas, the government plans to invite all G20 members to the meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors in Washington, DC on 20 April. This decision was made during a meeting held last Friday in Jakarta. Those in attendance included Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo.

The decision still needs to be brought to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo for pursuing as a government policy. Until Monday night, G20 staffers were still awaiting instructions from the President. Once the President’s approval was obtained, invitations will be sent out to all G20 members.

The Washington meeting will be the first high-level G20 meeting since the Russia-Ukraine war began. The success of the meeting will be a barometer for Indonesia’s G20 Presidency this year.

(This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia)