60 years of Indonesia-Russia : Friends of the Old in the New Era

By: Hamid Awaludin, RI Ambassador to Russia

That day, in 1955, Bung Karno visiting the city of Leningrad (now St Petersburg), USSR. His eyes were suddenly drawn into a building with a blue dome, berarsitek Central Asia. Bung Karno urged to stop by. Apparently, it was just a warehouse.

Then, Bung Karno further briefed that the true warehouse is a beautiful mosque. When the Communists came to the throne, all closed places of worship, including mosques.

When Bung Karno's traveling to the city of Moscow, Khrushchev asked, "Is the emperor enjoying the beautiful city of Leningrad that?" Bung Karno replied curtly, "I do not see and enjoy the city you mean it." "Well, how come. Your Majesty, are you, was there a few days, and the town was known as a city beautiful world, "said Khrushchev again. "The problem is, I do not find a mosque there," said the President.

Bung Karno After returning to the country, Khrushchev ordered the mosque was opened and re-enabled, up to now. Bung Karno was the name of eternal there.

This is an assertive attitude, the genius of diplomacy, and also a deep friendship: Indonesia and Russia, as reflected by Bung Karno and Khrushchev. At Wisma Indonesia, Moscow, in 1961, Bung Karno age of 61 years. There Khrushchev sat side by side with Bung Karno, each cigar set fire to them.

This friendship has crossed the span of time, which in the year 2010 we commemorate: 60 years of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Russia.

During these 60 years, enjoyed the honeymoon between the 1950s until the mid-1960s. Our armed forces at that time the Soviet Union equipped with technology, and is known and calculated in Asia. In fact, the Bung Karno Stadium is still standing firm made twin Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. Thousands of children sent to achieve the science at the Red Bear Country.

PKI rebellion emerged, interrupted honeymoon. For more than 30 years of Indonesia-Russia relations is very cold, but never broken. Then, the Soviet Union dissolved, Indonesia reform emerged.

Elegant, friendship and brotherhood returned the two peoples began to knit again. Purchase of military equipment began again. Increasing trade relations. The number of Russian tourists to the country growing up every year.

Young children are now very enthusiastic about Russian culture and learning Indonesian, both at various universities in Russia and who had an exchange student in Indonesia. In fact, nothing could have danced a variety of ethnic dance and sing in Indonesia Thistle. They are the new generation of Russians who represent the new era and aspirations.

Russia's older generation to understand the culture and the Indonesian language was started slowly recede with age the growing dusk. Recent years, a number of university re-activate and open the center of Indonesian studies.

With all this, the bitterness of the past relations began to try omitted. Suspicion and mistrust of the past slowly buried. The foundations of the bridge to cross into the future starting today should be fixed.

Learning to Russia

The best way to reproduce it is to send sons and daughters of the nation's best to come to Russia, drew science. We must open to admit the progress and the reliability of Russian technology, not a dream, but reality.

Oil and gas technology, for example, until now Russia is still ahead. So is the technology to explore other natural resources, Russia is still fairly champion. From this perspective, Indonesia should learn from Russia because we have in common, namely, abundant with natural wealth.

Space technology and satellites only a few large countries that can compete with Russia. Weapons and defense technology, especially. The problem is, the foundation of pure science: Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics in this country is very strong. Nuclear science, for example, because it was the daily menu at various universities.

Until now, the number of Indonesian students studying in various universities in Russia is only about 105 people, most are private and students who receive scholarships directly from the Russian Government.

This figure is far behind when we compare it with Malaysia, the number of students reached 4,000 people, which is generally sent by the government. Vietnam has a student in about 6 000 people and China reached 10,000 people. Recent years, African countries and the Middle East very intensively to send students to Russia to study various fields of science.

Indonesia can have a variety of long-term benefits by sending more students and increase the students to Russia. We can diversify our sources of knowledge that people have been impressed by America, Europe, and Japan-centric.

From this perspective, transfer of knowledge and skills of the famous Russian technology toughness and reliability can be easily and quickly transferred to our country. Second, the cost of higher education in Russia, for certain areas, much cheaper than the number of universities in the country.

The field of humanities, Russia also is a good nursery area. The development of the arts in this country is also very high. This may be because Russian civilization stretching far back. Tsar alternated in power in the past, with the style and the way each of them, Russian art still get a place.

What about about Marxism and Leninism ideology that we forbid it? No need too nervous. The second ideological dogma that was buried teaching of the curriculum, education curriculum Russia. In fact, the Russian Communist Party is now living getting 11 percent of the vote, far behind than Putin's Unity Party which won 65 percent of the vote.

Thus, in the age of 60 years of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Russia, I recalled the Russian proverb: Stary drug luchshe novyh dvuh (one old friend is better than two new friends). (rainbowdiplomacy.com/Kompas daily February 3, 2010/google translator)