BIOGRAPHY Dr. N. Hassan Wirajuda, Foreign Minister of Indonesia

 

In 2004, for the first time in the history of the Republic, the Indonesian people directly elected their President and Vice President. On 20 October 2004, President Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla announced their cabinet and Dr. N. Hassan Wirajuda was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs. The appointment came as no surprise for most observers both at home and abroad. Dr. Wirajuda had gained respect and trust as the Foreign Minister in the previous government under President Megawati Soekarnoputri (August 2001 - October 2004).

A career diplomat with an impressive academic background, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda has demonstrated leadership and zeal in reforming the Indonesian Foreign Service, transforming Indonesian foreign policy, and projecting his country’s interests while rebuilding its stature in both regional and global affairs. It was Indonesia’s leadership, for example, that initiated the on-going transformation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The 2003 ASEAN Summit in Bali, Indonesia, introduced a comprehensive concept aimed at ensuring a peaceful, progressive and democratic Southeast Asia by 2020.

A lawyer by training and a diplomat by choice, Dr. Wirajuda has held several important posts including Director-General of Political Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (July 2000 - August 2001), Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva (December 1998 - July 2000), Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Arab Republic of Egypt (October 1997 - December 1998), and Director of International Organizations of the Department of Foreign Affairs (1993 - 1997).

During his terms in Geneva, Dr. Wirajuda was appointed chief negotiator of the Government of Indonesia that started the dialogue with Free Aceh Movement representatives in Switzerland which led to the 2005 peace agreement. Negotiation for conflict resolution was not new for Minister Wirajuda. From 1993 to 1996 he was the Facilitator / Chairman of the Joint Committee Meeting of the peace process between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leading to the signing of the Final Peace Agreement in September 1996.

Dr. Wirajuda has significant experience in multilateral diplomacy. He has led numerous Indonesian delegations to the United Nations General Assembly, the Security Council, the various UN Specialized Agencies, the UN Commission on Human Rights and its Sub-Commissions, ASEAN and the ASEAN Regional Forum, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the G-15, APEC and the Pacific Island Forum. As the Foreign Minister of Indonesia, he initiated the establishment of the Southwest Pacific Dialogue, the International Conference of Islamic Scholars, the Asia-Pacific as well as Asia-Europe interfaith dialogue, and the Commission of Truth and Friendship between Indonesia and Timor-Leste.

At home, Dr. Wirajuda initiated the establishment of the National Commission on Human Rights in 1989 and served as the Commission’s resource person and expert advisor from 1993 to 1997.

Dr. Wirajuda earned a Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) in International Law from the University of Virginia School of Law (1988), a Master of Law (LL.M) from Harvard University School of Law (1985), and a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy (MALD) from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (1984). In 1971, he graduated from the Faculty of Law of the University of Indonesia and in 1976, he spent a year at Oxford University in the United Kingdom earning a Certificate in Diplomacy.

Dr. N. Hassan Wirajuda is married to Mrs. Herawati Wirajuda SH, LL.M.

Courtesy of The Fletcher School / Tuft University - May 20th, 2006
Source: http://news.fletcher.tufts.edu/main/2006/05/20/dr-n-hassan-wirajuda-bio/

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