Unrequited love : Arab eggs hatched on Earth There RI

By Djoko Susilo,a member of the House of Representatives Commission I and now Ambassador of Indonesia to the Confederation of Switzerland and Liechtenstein

Two weeks ago Indonesia to host economic meeting of the Islamic world. The forum was opened President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY). One of the themes that made this meeting is how to improve the investment the Middle East. And, how RI can get the $ 4 billion investment cake from Arab countries.

Surely there is nothing new to the forum because the problem is fixed. Ie, dry invetasi Arab Islamic world, especially Indonesia.

In other words, the money remained reluctant to enter the Arab. Like the egg, the Arab investment remains in the earth RI hatch. Arab investment promises just nonsense. We're so in love with the Arabs, but we love unrequited. Let us revealed the fact and reality there. In the Palestinian affairs, the state and nation in Indonesia always been the vanguard. Example when a brutal attack Israel into Gaza several months ago, hundreds of thousands of people demonstrating in Jakarta.

Similarly, the time of the war between Israel against Hezbollah, the community also march to show support for the Arab. In fact, at that time I happened to be in Dubai, the atmosphere calm. No demos, no invitation to support Hezbollah.

In fact, during the attack to the Hamas and Israel, the Palestinian police in Ramallah instead of arresting demonstrators supporting Hamas in Gaza.

In diplomatic relations, recorded from President Suharto to SBY, or even the vice president had berkujung to Middle East countries. Libya, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE, including the country's most frequently visited by the head of our country.

However, in our diplomatic note, was Col. Moammar Qaththafi never once to Jakarta. Also the king of Saudi Arabia to Indonesia ever recorded was King Faisal in 1974, while President Mubarak to Indnesia last time in 1983.

Economy Not Mengembirakan

Economic relations also seem less exciting. There have been many Arab merchants and high officials also promised Arab state investment or economic aid, but its realization is generally low.

In relation to tourism, very few Arab tourists to Indonesia, when the country is now flooded with neighbor Malaysia Middle East tourists. In fact, Bangkok's Buddhist majority had flooded Arab tourists.

It seems to us that the self is considered important, but the Arabs at all at one eye. Our women pilgrims are often referred to by way of harassing "Siti Romlah", whereas female workers (TKW) we get a lot of abuse without adequate legal protection.

Arab investments in fact remained the highest in the United States and Western Europe. Prince Al-Walid, the richest man in the world number four, even more pleased to plant a stake in the business right now as though shaken by the financial crisis in the U.S..

Pepesan case empty of Arabs can be seen in Jakarta in the stake monorail monument which makes jammed the streets of the capital. When the pole was inaugurated President Megawati on the idea of Governor Sutiyoso (then), will be heavily informed Arab loan USD 500 million. Until five years after the first pillar was built, a dollar there is no Arab money is disbursed.

Indeed, in fact, when it comes to property, there is no question of Islamic solidarity. That there is a wealth of Arab security.

State Reorganization

In the organization of Department of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the Middle East region dealt with the Middle East Directorate which is part of the Directorate General for Asia, the Middle East, and the Pacific. Thus, for the formulation of State policy, the Middle East region only a subset of Asia, Africa, and the vast Pacific. This is very suitable to the needs.

In the entire Middle East, from the 22 Arab League member countries, Indonesia currently has the Embassy in 19 countries. Only three countries that did not exist, namely Mauritania, Oman, and Bahrain. From the Embassy, two large enough to have the vice ambassador, the Embassy in Cairo, Egypt and the Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Although quite a lot of representatives of Indonesia in the area, still can not match the East Asian region, where Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and later China is an investor and largest trading partner of Indonesia.

Thus, it is clear from the Middle East had only empty hope. The area was a mirage that only beautiful in the shadows and hope, therefore, need rational in a discrepancy RI-Arab relations. RI should be more integrated with the Asia Pacific region rather than waiting for an empty pepesan from Arab countries. We will increasingly suffer the unrequited love of the Arab countries. (www.rainbowdiplomacy.com/Jawa Pos Daily, Monday March 29,2009)