Rahmat Pramono, dalam Seminar Jaringan Kerjasama Perpustakaan, Jakarta, 29 Mei 2013

Summary

The speaker discusses Indonesia's foreign policy with a focus on ASEAN, emphasizing its importance as the closest region to Indonesia. The presentation covers ASEAN's evolution, its cooperation in political, economic, and socio-cultural fields, and the significance of library and archival collaboration within this framework. Highlighting the need to reactivate librarian exchanges and collaborative projects, the speaker stresses that revitalizing ASEAN's library and archival networks will enhance regional integration and information accessibility, aligning with the goals of the ASEAN Community 2015 initiative. The call to action seeks to strengthen ties and improve information sharing across Southeast Asia.

Takeaways

• 😀 Indonesia's foreign policy is based on a 'concentric circle' model, where ASEAN and neighboring countries are prioritized for diplomatic efforts.
• 😀 ASEAN, founded in 1967, initially consisted of five countries. Today, it includes 10 member states, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines.
• 😀 The ASEAN cooperation framework is divided into three main pillars: political and security, economic, and socio-cultural cooperation.
• 😀 Library and archiving cooperation fall under ASEAN's socio-cultural pillar, which also includes other topics like labor migration, youth, and community development.
• 😀 ASEAN's library cooperation, specifically under the Committee on Culture and Information (CCI), was established in 1978 and has seen minimal development in recent years, particularly regarding librarian exchange programs.
• 😀 In 2012, ASEAN held over 1,000 meetings annually, demonstrating the intensity of its cooperation across various sectors, including libraries and archives.
• 😀 ASEAN's goal is to build a regional community by 2015, focusing on political, economic, and socio-cultural integration, which includes library and archiving projects.
• 😀 Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs plays a key role in supporting ASEAN library cooperation, and the country aims to reinvigorate past initiatives in library and archival projects within ASEAN.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes the importance of human resources (SDM) in libraries, stating that technology alone cannot solve issues unless well-trained personnel are engaged in cooperative efforts.
• 😀 Past library projects in Indonesia were marred by a lack of qualified human resources, leading to significant financial losses. This experience underlines the need for focused attention on capacity building in library networks.
• 😀 The speaker calls for ASEAN members to reinvigorate library and archiving cooperation, including librarian exchanges, to improve information access and benefit the region's development.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the speaker's presentation?

The main focus of the speaker's presentation is to discuss ASEAN cooperation, specifically in the context of library and archival collaboration, and to emphasize the importance of strengthening international library networks within ASEAN.

What is the concept of 'concentric circles' in Indonesia’s foreign policy?

The concept of 'concentric circles' in Indonesia's foreign policy refers to the prioritization of neighboring regions, with ASEAN and its member countries being the closest and most important, followed by other regions in the foreign policy agenda.

How did ASEAN evolve since its founding in 1967?

ASEAN was initially founded in 1967 by five countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines. Over time, other countries like Brunei, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Cambodia joined, expanding ASEAN's membership and influence in Southeast Asia.

What are the three main pillars of ASEAN cooperation?

The three main pillars of ASEAN cooperation are: 1) Political and Security cooperation, 2) Economic cooperation, and 3) Social and Cultural cooperation.

Which pillar of ASEAN cooperation does library and archival collaboration fall under?

Library and archival collaboration falls under the Social and Cultural Cooperation pillar within ASEAN, which also includes other areas like labor migration, youth cooperation, and more.

What is the role of the ASEAN Committee on Culture and Information (CCI)?

The ASEAN Committee on Culture and Information (CCI), established in 1978, coordinates efforts related to culture and information exchange among ASEAN countries. It includes two subcommittees: one focused on cultural cooperation and the other on information cooperation, which includes libraries and archives.

Why is there a need to reinvigorate ASEAN's library cooperation?

There is a need to reinvigorate ASEAN's library cooperation because previous projects, such as the exchange of librarians, stopped in 1997. Reactivating these efforts would strengthen professional networks, improve access to information, and enhance library services in ASEAN countries.

How did the speaker suggest improving cooperation in libraries and archives within ASEAN?

The speaker suggested improving cooperation by initiating joint projects, facilitating librarian exchanges, and creating new proposals for library-related activities. These efforts could be coordinated through ASEAN’s Social and Cultural Cooperation pillar with support from Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

What role does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs play in facilitating ASEAN cooperation in libraries?

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs supports ASEAN cooperation by facilitating meetings and coordinating efforts at the ASEAN level. It also helps promote initiatives and proposals for joint projects between ASEAN member states in the library and archival fields.

What potential benefits could come from revitalizing ASEAN library cooperation?

Revitalizing ASEAN library cooperation could lead to expanded access to information, improved library resources, better professional development opportunities for librarians, and stronger regional connections among ASEAN nations, ultimately benefiting the public's access to knowledge.