Ali Alatas

Ali Alatas stands as one of the most influential Indonesian diplomats of the 20th century. His greatest achievement remains the successful negotiation of the Paris Peace Agreements in 1991, which brought an end to decades of conflict in Cambodia. This feat is frequently cited in diplomatic literature as a masterclass in mediation. He played a pivotal role in establishing the ASEAN Regional Forum, significantly shaping regional security architecture. His long tenure as Foreign Minister, spanning eleven years, set a record for the longest-serving holder of the office in Indonesia's history. His contributions to normalizing relations with China in 1990 also marked a turning point in Southeast Asian geopolitics.