Opinion: Why Indonesian Government Should Reconsider Diplomatic Relations with Armenia
In President Joko Widodo’s speech at the UN General Assembly Debate this year, he conveyed that in the 75 years since the UN was founded as the world’s largest intergovernmental organization, there is still much that most of the world’s citizens need to achieve and feel, especially in terms of peace and security. After years of being absent from UN GA meetings, President Jokowi’s speech was sufficient enough in conveying the importance of multilateralism, the importance of fighting for peace, especially for countries that are not yet independent (Palestine), the importance of cooperation in overcoming the pandemic, and the importance of achieving welfare goals for all.
Bearing that in mind, Indonesia’s role as part of the peace solution, as a mediator, should be more active, as this is the last year for Indonesia as non-permanent member at the UN Security Council for the 2018–2020 period.
As a country with the largest Muslim population in the world, Indonesia’s bigger role is certainly awaited and (perhaps a while ago) hoped for in being part of the solution, especially in dealing with conflicts in Muslim brotherly countries. It is worth noting that in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), apart from the Palestine Issue, there are also Kashmir Issues (India — Pakistan), Rohingya Issues (Myanmar), and Nagorno-Karabakh Issues (Armenia-Azerbaijan). Indonesia’s role in providing a position regarding the Armenia — Azerbaijan conflict is still not optimal. For example, if we browse various web pages, we will find far more track records of Indonesia — Armenia bilateral cooperation than Indonesia — Azerbaijan.
There is a regrettably the lack of clear stance from the Indonesian government, even though unfortunately today is the third day of the war between the two countries. The escalated conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized territory) began again on 27 September 2020. Earlier this year in July there was also aggression by the Armenian army against the settlement of Azerbaijanis in Nagorno Karabakh. The July escalation took several casualties on both sides including Azerbaijan’s Major General, Polad Hashimov (may he RIP).
As Indonesian citizens with a clear moral compass, the fact that our country has diplomatic relations with Armenia does not mean we refrain from speaking out the truth and fighting for justice. What was carried out by the Azerbaijan army against the Armenian army was a counter offensive attack, meaning to protect the territorial rights of its territory. Armenia has violated the norms and basic principles of international law, international humanitarian law, including the 1949 Geneva Convention and its Additional Protocols, and UN Security Council resolutions 822, 853, 874, 884 of 1993.
Indonesia as a member of the UN Security Council needs to be more proactive, especially since the UN has clearly agreed that Nagorno-Karabakh is Azerbaijan’s territory. As fellow OIC members and members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Indonesia does not need to think twice about not supporting Azerbaijan. In fact, in our opinion it will be much more concrete and makes much for sense for Indonesia (We have much more in common with Azerbaijan than we do with Armenia) if we strengthen the existing bilateral cooperation between two countries, both in social, cultural, political, economic, and military sector with Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan is one of the OIC countries that have advanced human capital with high literacy rate and high rate of university students. Their strategic location renders them transcontinental (Eurasia), very vibrant in culture, rich in thousands of years of human civilization history, and thus religious tolerance is their brand. It shouldn’t be hard for Indonesia should tap into all those commonalities to make Azerbaijan a priority in “Muslim world diplomacy” (coined by Jokowi in his previous Presidential Vision and Mission Debate on Indonesian Foreign Policy).
With the ongoing conflict approaching the third day and the lack of government response, it is regrettable that President Joko Widodo and Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi have lost the direction of the diplomacy map. We await for the implementation of President Jokowi’s vision and mission promises in diplomacy, in particular diplomacy in the Muslim world. We urge the Indonesian government’s firm stance regarding the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, including if necessary reconsider diplomatic relations with Armenia.
