AIPA NEWS BULLETIN SECOND QUARTERLY                                                                     JANUARY - MARCH 2008

 

ACTIVITIES OF

THE INDONESIAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

JANUARY TO MARCH 2008

 

A.        PARLIAMENTARY SITTING

            On 18 October 2006, the Speaker of the House, HR Agung Laksono in his opening remarks at the Third Session of the Indonesian House of Representatives for the period 2006-2007 stated that the DPR welcomed the convening of the United Nations Forum on Climate Change Conference held in December 2007 in Bali. The Conference resulted in the Bali Road Map which was agreed to as a reference for a new consensus in 2009 in the efforts to successfully address climate change. The new consensus is expected to replace the first phase of the Kyoto Protocol which will terminate in 2012.

Entering the year of 2008, the Indonesian House hoped that several conflicts and violence which still happened in many parts of the world could be immediately resolved through peaceful ways and means. Indonesia, as a non permanent member of the Security Council of the UN up to the end of 2008 is expected to play a more active role in creating peace and security in the world especially in the Middle East.

The Speaker also called on all countries in the Asia Pacific Region especially in Southeast Asia to maintain security and political stability. ASEAN as a regional body could play its pivotal role both at the regional and international level. The promotion of democratic institution, protection of human rights and the enforcement of good governance are three factors that should continuously be encouraged in the region.

 

B.        DPR-RI ATTENDED REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

1.   The 16th Annual Meeting of Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), 20-24 January, Auckland,  New Zealand

The meeting   resulted in a Joint Communiqué and 23 resolutions on various issues in politics and security, economics and trade, and social matters. The Indonesian Delegation  proposed 6 draft  resolutions, i.e.: Middle East Peace Process, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Energy Security, Natural Disaster Preparedness and Pandemic Disease, Poverty Alleviation, as well as Treatment and Protection of Migrant Workers.

Regarding the Palestine peace process, the Indonesian Delegation expressed the position that Hamas as the winner of the general election should be involved in every peace talk on Palestine. Underlining the tension in Iraq, the meeting urged the holding of Middle-East talks and suggested the gradual withdrawal of foreign troops to be eventually replaced by United Nations troops.

2.   The 5th Conference and 10th Council Meeting of Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC) 27-31 January 2008, Cairo, Egypt

This Conference discussed several political, economic and cultural issues. Concerning political issues, the meeting decided to support the Arab Peace Initiatives to create a comprehensive and durable peace in the region. On economic and cultural matters, the meeting concluded that it was the pivotal role of PUIC to formulate economic policies and instruments as well as its political role in crystallizing respective visions of states in the face of globalization developments and challenges, and to promote education and scientific research and their curricula in the Islamic world as well as enhance principles of consultation, democracy, human rights and the effective as well as positive participation of women in various facets of life.

3.   Parliamentary Forum on the Occasion of the Vienna Forum to Fight Human Trafficking, 13-15 February 2008, Vienna, Austria

The meeting decided that the participating countries in the UN Convention and the Protocol on Combating Human Trafficking have the obligation to implement the articles stated in the protocol, by adopting them into their national laws.

Although Indonesia is not yet a member of the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and the Anti Human-Trafficking Protocol, it has however endorsed the law on Combating Human Trafficking (UU Nomor 21, 2007). The law has adopted comprehensively the norms in both the UN Convention to Combat People Trafficking and the People Trafficking Protocol.

 

C.        DPR-RI WELCOMED GUESTS FROM FELLOW COUNTRIES

1.   National Assembly of Vietnam

On January 23, 2008, the Indonesian House of Representatives received the Delegation from National Assembly of Vietnam led by Hon. Hon Ksor Phouc. The visit was aimed at discussing theprogress which had been achieved by the two countries including parliamentary relationship. During the time, the relationship between Indonesian and Vietnam has improved in various sectors. The signing of “Declaration on the framework of friendship and comprehensive partnership in the 21st century” was a milestone of such relationship.

In the economic sector, Indonesia and Vietnam had signed several MOU and agreements, such as MOU on Counter Trade Agreement (2003) and MOU on Construction (2004). In the investment sector, based on Vietnam's foreign investment list, Indonesia is ranked 27th with a total value of USD 130,09 million. Meanwhile, Vietnam's investment in Indonesia is valued at USD 9.4 million.

2.   President of Finland

On 18 February 2008, the President of Finland paid a courtesy call on the speaker of DPR-RI. During the meeting, Indonesia and Finland agreed to boost relations between the two countries through trade and inter-parliamentary cooperation. DPR-RI pointed to the   trade imbalance between Indonesia and Finland due to no significant exports from Indonesia.  On the other hand, Indonesia is one of the biggest importers of cellular phones from Finland. On this matter, the Speaker hoped that Indonesia could balance its trade with Finland by exporting   agricultural and plantation products to Finland.

3.   Parliament of Germany

Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee, Parliament of Germany, Hon. Hans Ulrich Klose paid a visit to DPR-RI on 27 February 2008. In the ensuing discussions he stated that Indonesia is not only a large country but also has a huge population, and therefore Indonesia has a vital and strategic role in the Southeast Asian region. Visiting DPR-RI was part of his round of visits and meetings with ASEAN countries to enhance ASEAN-Germany relations in the economic, financial and cultural fields. He noted that Indonesia is practicing true democracy which has similarities with Germany in managing pluralism. The Speaker of DPR-RI, H.E. Agung Laksono on his part explained that Indonesia is a non-aligned country, which meant that Indonesia is free from external interference and has played an active role in world affairs.

4.   Chargé d’affairés ofUzbekistan

On 9 January 2008, the Speaker of DPR-RI, H.E. Agung Laksono welcomed the visit of the Chargé d’affairés of the Embassy of Uzbekistan, Hon. Kahramon A. Zhakirov. The Speaker expressed the hope that the two countries could further enhance relations in the cultural and educational fields as well as strengthen economic cooperation which had been developing smoothly with the exchange of   cultural teams between Banda Aceh and Uzbekistan as well as the students exchange program between the two countries. He also hoped that economic cooperation could also be further strengthened.

5.   Parliament of the Republic of Rumania

The DPR-RI welcomed a Rumanian Parliamentary Delegation on 28 March 2008. At the meeting that was held, the two delegations discussed the common agenda to develop cooperation between Rumania and Indonesia especially in developing energy resources and cultural exchanges. Moreover, the two delegations proposed that Rumania could be a promoter for Indonesian interest in Europe. It was also agreed to use the Bilateral Friendship Group Forum which has been established in both parliaments to enhance parliamentary relations between Indonesia and Rumania.

 

 

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