There is a political side to negotiations: Indonesia envoy Sidharto Suryodipuro on Masood Azhar listing

Indonesia is the president of United Nations Security Council for May 2019 and is also the chair of the UN's Sanctions Committee which listed Masood Azhar as an international terrorist.

WION's Sidhant Sibal spoke to Indonesia's envoy to India Sidharto Suryodipuro on a number of things regarding the listing of Masood Azhar including what went into the negotiations and Jakarta's role.

Here are the excerpts:

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WION: What was Indonesia's role in the listing of Masood Azhar?

Sidharto Suryodipuro: The chairman of the 1267 Committee is guided, first of all, by mandate of the committee; secondly by the need to show credibility from all sides involved in the decision; and also to create a ground that everybody can agree on. These three roles guide him in ensuring that everybody is on board.

WION: What is the impact of Masood Azhar's listing as global terrorist?

Sidharto Suryodipuro: Listing means it falls under Chapter 7 of the United Nations charter, which all members of the UN are bound by. So listing basically means that all the countries must freeze the assets of the listed person, ban his travel and also put arms embargo. These are the measures that all countries are required to apply on the person who has been listed as a global terrorist.

WION: How do you see the decision, especially on terror?

Sidharto Suryodipuro: Well, terrorism is unacceptable. All terrorist must be brought before the courts of law. That is the principled position of Indonesia. We oppose terrorism everywhere because it is a threat to the whole of the international community. All the countries, in particular the victims, should enhance their cooperation. This is what India and Indonesia are doing. We have a joint working group on counter-terror and I believe its work is to strengthen (the cooperation). I think the challenge is greater than ever and the relationship between India and Indonesia is growing.

WION: Tell us briefly what goes into the negotiations?

Sidharto Suryodipuro: There are a number of dimensions to the negotiation. We understand there is the political side to it. So countries with particular interest will have their own negotiation. We understand that there are discussions between the capitals. The other side of it, the committee, in particular, the chair of the committee, has to ensure the ground is right, it is mature. When all sides want to take it to the committee, the committee is ready, the situation is mature, so they can have a productive decision.

WION: How do ties stand between India and Indonesia?

Sidharto Suryodipuro: It is a comprehensive strategic relation. We are looking for it in the long term. We have a shared vision of maritime cooperation. We also have elections at the same time. It means the new government, that will establish will have five years of stability to further build the relationship. You have to look it as in three decades, we will be the second and fourth largest economies. So what we doing today has strategic foundations to strengthen the ties.