Debates heated up the first session of the summit over geopolitical issues, especially triggered by the war in Ukraine. In the second session the dialogue was more amiably constructive.
President Joko Widodo delivers a speech at the opening of the G20 Indonesia Summit in Nusa Dua, Bali, Tuesday (11/15/2022).
NUSA DUA, KOMPAS —The Group of 20 Summit on Tuesday (15/11/2022) continued to be dynamic following President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s commencement of the first session, in which he discussed food and energy security and pleaded for the war to stop. In front of the leaders of the G20 member countries and invited countries, Jokowi appealed for the increasing geopolitical polarization to end immediately.
The President, after tapping the gavel to mark the official opening of the gathering, pointed to the world's current situation, which he said was facing multiple crises, from the unfinished Covid-19 pandemic, global animosity, wars, to the food, energy and financial sector strains. He further said the world order “was being tested by the polarization in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war”.
With the world closely watching, Jokowi said the G20 forum could not afford to falter in finding a solution. “Are we going to succeed? Or are we going to add one more challenge to the current state of the world?” he said.
He switched to speaking in English when he came to conveying his message related to war and his hopes that the world leaders at the summit should take the responsibility to contribute to peace "That responsibility means we have to create a win-win situation, not a zero-sum game," he said.
He said being a responsible leader meant having to stop the war. “If the war does not stop, it will be difficult for the world to move forward. We should not divide the world into factions. We must not allow the world to fall into another Cold War,” he said.
The President later made way for every state leader of the G20 member countries to give their speeches. According to one diplomat, there was serious debate, related to geopolitical issues sparked by the Russia-Ukraine conflict in particular.
As the session was held behind closed door, the media obtained the information from distributed copies of the draft declaration. The opening two paragraphs of the draft document shed light on the issues of Ukraine war and nuclear threats. The draft condemned the war, stating that it was unacceptable.
The impact of this conflict is very wide and serious on global food and energy security. Hunger and malnutrition are acute.
Prior to the opening of the G20 Summit held at The Apurva Kempinski Hotel Bali, European Council president Charles Michel held a press conference in a separate location. He reiterated his criticism of Russia's aggression against Ukraine and invited the world to return to its commitments in the United Nations Charter and international rules.
“The impact of this conflict is very wide and serious on global food and energy security. Hunger and malnutrition are acute. Here, the G20 forum should be able to persuade the parties in conflict, especially Russia, to stop war. Moreover, they have the responsibility as a permanent member of the UN Security Council," he said.
MEDIA CENTER G20 INDONESIA/ADITYA PRADANA PUTRA
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi (center) witnessed by President Joko Widodo (right) and President of the United States Joe Biden (left) delivering a speech at the opening of the 2022 G20 Indonesia Summit in Nusa Dua, Bali, Tuesday (15/11/2022).
Considered unrealistic
The first session had Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky making a statement virtually. In his message he urged Russia to withdraw all its troops from Ukraine, release all prisoners and reinstate Ukraine's territorial integrity.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov berated the peace proposal put forward by Ukraine as unrealistic. "All the problems are with the Ukrainian side, which categorically rejects negotiations and puts forward conditions that are clearly unrealistic," he told reporters.
He accused the Western allies of politicizing the draft declaration document. The heated debate in the first session caused lunch to run late.
The draft also contained issues related to energy, food security and health as well as the consensus to carry out concrete actions and initiatives.
According to a news source, the second session, which discussed health issues, ran in a constructive manner.
Geopolitical views aside, various programs had already been agreed upon at the preceding meetings by working groups and ministerial level forums.
"Indeed, it still needs a gavel tap [to ratify] at the summit level, but so far the discussions have been very conducive," Susiwijono, Office of the Coordinating Economy Minister secretary, said.
Referring to a number of agreements reached by representing Sherpas of the G20 countries, he expressed his optimism that Indonesia’s G20 presidency would produce a leaders’ declaration at the summit. He believed President Jokowi's statement at the summit opening had reflected the growing conscientiousness among state leaders.
"Bland" declaration
Contacted separately, Gilang Kembara, a researcher on international relations at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said he was expecting the joint declaration resulting from the G20 Summit to be “bland” because of the ongoing geopolitical tensions.
“It could be that the communiqué only addresses general issues at the lowest level of mutual agreement. It means the communiqué is not direct [on the core issue]," he said.
Given that the Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war are the roots of the current world crisis, Gilang, while pointing to post-pandemic recovery as the major concern for all G20 members, doubted that a solution to the conflict or an agreement for Russia to relent its stance could be reached because of its distrust of the West.
It could be that the communiqué only addresses general issues at the lowest level of mutual agreement.
“Indonesia must feel obliged to reserve space for formal and informal meetings. If the conflicting delegates are unwilling to sit for dialogue, that's their business. The most important thing is that Indonesia shows a commitment as a mediator and liaison for various parties," he said.
In the evening, President Jokowi held a banquet for state guests and dignitaries. United States President Joe Biden was not present. His White House entourage’s member said Biden had other matters to address.
