Indonesia to Invite All Members

TURKISH PRESIDENCY VIA AP, POOL

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses the virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabiain, in a video conference from his Vahdettin Pavilion, in Istanbul, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. Erdogan said Sunday that Turkey sees itself as a part of Europe, but he called on the European Union to “keep your promises” on issues such as the country’s membership bid and refugees.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Indonesia plans to invite all Group of 20 members, including Russia, to the meeting of finance ministers and governors of the G20 central bank in Washington DC, United States, on 20 April. This decision was made based on Indonesia’s determination to uphold responsibility as holder of the G20 presidency and water down polarization.

“The G20 presidency holder always invites all of its members, this year too. It is a G20 tradition. No one will be excluded. It is hoped that everyone will be in attendance. If Russia attends, it is hoped that everyone else will attend too,” said Deputy Minister for the Coordination of International Economic Cooperation Edi Prio Pambudi, who is also Indonesia's G20 Co-Sherpa, in Jakarta, Sunday (20/3/2022).

Also read:

Public Expectations on the G20 Presidency

Kompas received information that several countries had asked Indonesia to exclude Russia from the G20 agenda. If Russia is invited, there is a risk that these countries will only send representatives below the ministerial level and central bank governors. In the worst-case scenario, these countries boycott the agenda by not attending at all.

Meanwhile, Russia as a G20 member has affirmed its participation. In fact, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would attend the summit a while back.

Indonesia reminds all members that the G20 was not formed to instigate crises but to resolve them. Indonesia will not be swayed left and right. We want to be mediators,

As holder of the G20 presidency, Edi continued, Indonesia would maintain the integrity of the G20. Indonesia will manage the dynamics as well as it can so that the G20 will produce the most optimal results. “Indonesia reminds all members that the G20 was not formed to instigate crises but to resolve them. Indonesia will not be swayed left and right. We want to be mediators,” he said.

Based on information compiled by Kompas, the decision to invite all G20 members was agreed upon during a leadership meeting in Jakarta, Friday (18/3). Those who attended included Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo.

KOMPAS/ANDY RIZA HIDAYAT

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi

On Monday (21/3), the agreement will be brought to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo for a definitive decision. Sri Mulyani and the three other ministers are scheduled to meet the President.

This definitive decision is needed as soon as possible because the Indonesian government must send the invitations to the G20 members by this Monday, at the latest. Although the meeting will be held in the US, as holder of the G20 presidency, Indonesia is responsible for sending out the invitations.

The meeting will be held in person. However, Indonesia will also facilitate hybrid mechanisms as Russia and China may be participating virtually. Meanwhile, all other G20 members will be physically present.

Support

Under normal conditions, sending out invitations to G20 members is more of an administrative task. But this time, the matter is complicated, sensitive and very political due to the escalation of the conflict triggered by the Ukraine crisis.

This will strengthen Indonesia’s message that the G20 has no interest in siding with either side of the conflict.

International relations lecturer and Synergy Policies founder Dinna Prapto Raharja supports the government’s decision to invite all G20 members. This will strengthen Indonesia’s message that the G20 has no interest in siding with either side of the conflict.

“This is actually the best time for Indonesia to show its activeness in maintaining world order and peace through international forums. All G20 member countries must be invited,” said Dinna.

Gadjah Mada University (UGM) international relations lecturer Muhadi Sugiono is also optimistic that the G20 forum serves as a means for Indonesia to show its leadership. He deemed that it is only fitting that Indonesia invite all G20 members to all G20 agenda.

“Indonesia might not be able to ensure the attendance of all G20 members at high-level meetings. However, this does not mean that Indonesia’s G20 presidency is a failure,” Muhadi said.

AP/MARKUS SCHREIBER

Women show posters in support of the Ukraine as they attend a demonstration along the street near the Russian embassy to protest against the escalation of the tension between Russia and Ukraine in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. Europe braced for further confrontation Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022 after tensions over Ukraine escalated dramatically when Russian President Vladimir Putin got the OK to use military force outside his country and the West responded with sanctions.

Airlangga University political department lecturer Airlangga Pribadi Kusman is of the opinion that the G20 can be used to improve international relations, especially relations between Russia and the US as well as its allies.

“We hope the G20 meeting will be an opportunity to resolve Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and build better relations between countries caught in the conflict,” said Airlangga. (BEN/LAS)

(This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia).