Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia had consistently managed and promoted change for the better in its foreign policy amid global uncertainty in 2011, Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa said here on Wednesday.

"In facing the uncertain situation at present, diplomacy can make a contribution not only to overcoming various challenges but also to creating opportunities," Marty said in his annual press statement at his office.

Marty said Indonesia`s foreign policy in 2011 was always anchored in the national interest, and inspired by the principles of partnership and equality.

"Our foreign policy was always carried out on the basis of a principled approach, one that is visionary and yet pragmatic and anticipatory in responding to global and regional developments," Marty said.

According to the minister, Indonesia had always striven to find solutions by bridging differences in order to arrive at mutual understanding and consensus in addressing common challenges.

"All our efforts were aimed at managing changes and their accompanying dynamics, while at the same time constantly promoting progress," he added.

Marty said pne example of such efforts was the revitalization of the ministerial joint commissions with the Philippines, Myanmar, and Laos which had been dormant since 2007, in addition to the revival of the joint ministerial commissions with Brunei Darussalam in 2003.

"The mechanisms that have been revitalized since the past year will be systematically finetuned such as the joint commissions with Timor Leste, New Zealand, Malaysia, the United States, and Japan," Marty said.
(Uu.O001/HAJM)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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