Today's Memory 18 July 2011: President SBY Signs Visa-Free Policy For Myanmar, Laos, And Cambodia

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on July 18, 2011 implemented a visa-free policy for Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia. (Facebook Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono)

JAKARTA - Today's memory, 12 years ago, July 18, 2011, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed a visa-free policy for three Southeast Asian countries: Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia. The stipulation was perpetuated in a Presidential Regulation (Perpres). All of them are to strengthen friendly relations between countries.

Previously, President SBY had never underestimated foreign political affairs. Offers for friendly relations are a lesson. He considered this step as one of the ways for Indonesia to exist in the eyes of the world.

President SBY's leadership is full of dynamics. Moreover, foreign political matters. SBY never tire of following in the footsteps of the leaders of the previous nation. From Soekarno to Suharto. He considered the two leaders to be able to give color to Indonesian foreign politics.

Indonesia is able to be friends with any country. This friendly relationship is for Indonesia to be profitable. Indonesia can play a more important role in reducing conflicts between countries and increasing the economy.

The move was then adapted by SBY. He became fond of perpetuating visits to many countries and international forums. Everything boils down to SBY's desire to establish and maintain friendship between national leaders.

The assessment that SBY perpetuated was never the same as the level. He was able to prepare everything optimally. He then asked his staff to work extra every time he flew abroad. All kinds of travel points must be maximized.

SBY wants the visit to have more benefits for Indonesia. This step makes all the goals and targets that are perpetuated in international visits can be achieved. Even the Indonesian people do not need to worry about SBY's various foreign political agendas.

The number one Indonesian person often holds press conferences before and after the visit. So that the Indonesian people can understand the urgency of the visit, he thought.

"My habit of visiting abroad, I started with an explanation to the press at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport about which country I visited, how many days, what were the goals and targets, as well as what multilateral and bilateral agendas I had to do. then when I arrived at the destination country I usually did an initial briefing attended by members of the delegation."

"A moment before returning to the country, I held a press conference and at the same time received a question from our press. Then, as soon as the plane I was on landed at Halim, I had time to thank all members of the delegation and entourage who had carried out international duties together," explained President SBY in the book SBY: Always There is a Choice (2014).

The foreign politics that SBY perpetuates is not only to distant countries, such as America and the European country. SBY did not forget to maintain good relations with the country that is under the umbrella of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

This narrative is evidenced by the active SBY attending the ASEAN SABAN Summit (KTT) year. This closeness made SBY perpetuate various collaborations with ASEAN participating countries. The decision to sign a visa-free policy with three participating countries in Asean Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia is one example.

The policy was perpetuated by President SBY through Presidential Decree No. 43 of 2011. The presence of the Presidential Decree which he signed on July 18, 2011 is proof of SBY's seriousness in fostering friendly relations to the three countries. On the other hand, the three countries also perpetuate visa-free policies for Indonesia.

"That to improve the quality of social and economic relations between the Indonesian state and the Cambodian state, Laos state, and Myanmar countries in the ASEAN region, it has been agreed to impose a visa-free policy for citizens of the common passport holders between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Government of the Democratic People of Laos, and the Government of the United Arab Republic based on the principle of reciprocity or reciprocality as outlined in the form of a Joint Statement," the contents of the Presidential Decree considerations.