June 2011

In cooperation with the Egmont Institute, the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Brussels convened the Expert Roundtable entitled "Indonesia's Fight Against Terrorism". The Head of the Indonesian National Counter Terrorism Agency, Gen. Pol. (Ret) Ansyaad Mbai was the key speaker at the Roundtable that was held at the Chateau du Val Duchesse, Brussels, on 29 June 2011.

Gen. Mbai highlighted that Indonesia's approach towards countering terrorism is the legal approach, meaning that all terrorist acts perpetrators are being processed under due process of law. He also highlighted that the utilization of hard power alone in counter terrorism efforts is not enough. There has got to be sociological approach with the view to eradicate radical ideology. 

Gen Mbai also pointed out that there is no single country that is immune to terrorist threat, and therefore, he was of the view that international cooperation plays an important role on this issue.

According to Ambassador Arif Havas Oegroseno, the visit of the Head of the Indonesian National Counter Terrorism Agency was also to share Indonesia's best practices in counter terrorism with relevant authorities in Europe.

Together with the European Union Commisioner for Trade, H.E. Karel De Gucht, Ambassador Arif Havas Oegroseno presented the report of the study by the EU - Indonesia Vision Group on Trade and Investment Relations in Brussels, 28 June 2011.

The event was co-organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Brussels and the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), a Brussels-based reknown think-tank. The Seminar was attended by the Director-General for International Cooperation, Ministry of Trade of Indonesia, Mr. Gusmardi Bustami, and  Jacques Pelkmans, member of the Vision Group from the EU Side. The theme of the Seminar was "Invigorating the EU-Indonesia Partnership: Towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement".

The Ambassador, in cooperation with Mr. Eric Domb, CEO of the Parc Pairi Daiza who is also the Indonesian Honorary Consul General for the Region of Walloon, organized the Ogoh-ogoh Festival at the Parc Pairi Daiza, Brugelette, Belgium on 11 June 2011.

The Festival, that was organized as part of the Embassy's efforts to deepen the image of Indonesia in Belgium,  was convened in conjunction with the Balinese Hindu celebration of Tumpak Wariga and Tumpak Uduh, to celebrate the God's blessing of nature.

The Festival was convened using three huge statues that were imported directly from Bali, the place of origin of the ogoh-ogoh ritues. Ogoh-ogoh is a statue that is believed to possess certain spirit, and in this case, the three ogoh-ogoh that was present in Belgium are Detya Niwatakawaca, the giant statue represented evil spirit; Harjuna, the knight representing good deeds; and Devi Sarasvati, the goddess of knowledge as the balancing actor.

The ogoh-ogoh was carried by more than 200 Balinese from thoroughout Europe. The Festival is calculated to be spectacled by more than 5.000 persons visiting the Parc Pairi Daiza during that special day.

Clips from the event are available at the bottom of this page.

The Ambassador presented Indonesia's vast potentials in investment and trade sectors before Belgium's business leaders at a seminar on investment and trade that was hosted by Flanders Investment and Trade, Brussels, 8 June 2011.

During the presentation, Ambassador Arif Havas Oegroseno highlighted the rallying Indonesia's economic performance since the Asian financial crisis in 1998. He also pointed out Indonesia's resilient economy during the financial burst in 2006-2007 that was supported by the strength of Indonesia's domestic market, which in turn provides vast opportunities and potentials that need to be tapped.

With a view to project Indonesia's value of multiculturalism and tolerance and her vast experiences in interfaith dialogue, the Ambassador initiated an Interfaith Dialogue Campaign in Belgium on 31 May - 4 June 2011.