The AACC Permanent Secretariat and International Relations Department of the Constitutional Court along with foreign interns visiting the Directorate of Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wednesday (6/2) at the Main Building of MOFA. Photo by Humas MK/Ifa.

Staff of the Working Unit of the AACC Permanent Secretariat and International Relations Department of the Constitutional Court visited the Directorate of Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday (6/2/2019). The visit was initiated by the Constitutional Court to learn the foundation of diplomacy for Court staff dealing with international relations as well as to directly learn the implementation of international forums by MOFA, including the Bali Democracy Forum.

Welcomed by MOFA Director of Public Diplomacy Azis Nurwahyudi and Head of Sub-directorate of Actual and Strategic Issues Agus Heryana, the Court delegates received explanation on the importance of diplomacy for Indonesia’s existence in the world. A diplomat has five main functions: representing, negotiation, promoting, reporting, and protecting. Especially for the Working Unit of the AACC Permanent Secretariat and International Relations Department, Azis said, it must do the first four functions well. Azis also asserted that the motto to win the heart and mind of the people underlie public diplomacy. “If they are aware of and love us, it will be easier to [communicate] our country’s interests,” Azis said.

In the Q&A session, the Court delegates learned more about the implementation of international events hosted by MOFA, especially the Bali Democracy Forum, one of the most prestigious international platforms. MOFA explained the determination of the theme of the forum, the determination the speakers and the limits of the discussion, as well as the tricks to help foreign delegates freely convey their experiences and opinions.

Concluding the meeting, Azis hoped that the visit by the AACC Permanent Secretariat and International Relations Department of the Constitutional Court not be the only visit, but a starting point of partnership between the department and the MOFA Directorate of Public Diplomacy, both in training on diplomacy techniques, workshop implementation, or other events that can be hosted together.

The visit that took place at the Main Building of MOFA, Central Jakarta, was attended by 11 Constitutional Court delegates and three interns from Australia. This visit was expected to be part of the preparation for the Constitutional Court International Symposium scheduled for November 2019. (IH/LA/Yuniar Widiastuti)