Mikhail Galuzin. JP/Jerry Adiguna Russia believes that bilateral relations with Indonesia will strengthen under the presidency of Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
Jokowi is scheduled to be installed on Oct. 20, replacing incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, whom Russian ambassador Mikhail Galuzin said enjoyed close relations with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.
“Russia thanks [President] Yudhoyono for maintaining good bilateral relations. He has a warm attitude,” Galuzin told The Jakarta Post on Thursday at his residence in South Jakarta.
He said the close relationship between Putin and Yudhoyono was especially evident in Bali in 2013, when Yudhoyono performed a memorable guitar and voice rendition of “Happy Birthday” to honor Putin on his 61st birthday in front of 19 international leaders during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Nusa Dua.
Galuzin said that close ties between the two nations could be seen in increased cooperation across various sectors, ranging from education and culture to military and the economy.
In the education sector, this year the Russian government awarded 125 scholarships to Indonesian students to study at 24 universities across Russia, double the number in 2013.
Meanwhile, bilateral trade between the two nations has reached US$3 billion.
Galuzin, who has led the Russian embassy since Oct. 2012, said military cooperation was also tightening between the two countries.
The Indonesian Air Force, for example, contains a squadron with 16 Russian-produced Sukhoi Su-27/30 heavy jet fighters.
The Indonesian Navy’s Marine Corps, meanwhile, operates 54 BMP-3F amphibious infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and one BREM-L recovery vehicle that are also Russian-made.
Galuzin said that he was especially proud to see eight Su-27/30 jet fighters included in the 32-jet flyover that occurred on Aug. 17 during Indonesia’s 69th Independence Day ceremony at the Presidential Palace.
He added that he believed ties would strengthen after Jokowi was sworn in as the seventh president of Indonesia, which is the world’s third largest democracy.
Galuzin said that he appreciated the smooth transitions of power that had characterized the young democracy since the end of the Soeharto regime in 1998.
“Jokowi gives a positive signal to the international community. Other countries can also learn from Indonesia’s peaceful elections,” he said, adding that Jokowi, like Yudhoyono, had a warm attitude.
The Jakarta governor, who grew up in a slum area in Surakarta, Central Java, enjoys close relations with the people, especially those from less privileged backgrounds. Such can be seen in Jokowi’s frequent use of blusukan, or impromptu visits, which he popularized while leading Surakarta as its 16th mayor and Jakarta as its 15th governor.
Galuzin said that under Jokowi’s administration, Russia was ready to deepen ties with Indonesia.
The two nations first exchanged diplomatic representatives in 1954. Five years later, relations strengthened when then president Sukarno visited Moscow. In 1960, Nikita Khrushchev, the Soviet leader, returned the favor on a visit to Jakarta. (alz)
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