Alatas ponders retirement once E. Timor issue resolved<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas hinted he
\nmay consider retiring once the East Timor issue is resolved.<\/p>\n
In an off-the-cuff remark, before delivering a speech at a
\nluncheon here on Wednesday, Alatas said the issue had kept him
\nfrom going stale dedicated during his tenure in office and that
\nit was good to quit while on top.<\/p>\n
The minister's remark followed a speech by Australian
\nAmbassador John McCarthy in which Alatas' decade-long service as
\none of the most accomplished foreign ministers in Asia was
\nlauded.<\/p>\n
Before reading his official speech, Alatas thanked McCarthy,
\nsaying the kind words reminded him of the length of time he had
\nserved in the position.<\/p>\n
"(But) one unresolved question has always kept me from turning
\nstale, and that is East Timor," Alatas remarked.<\/p>\n
He added that "it's always good to quit while you're on top
\nand not when you're sliding down".<\/p>\n
When later pressed by journalists to clarify whether his
\nremark signaled his imminent retirement, Alatas cheerily side-
\nstepped the question. But it was clear such thoughts were on his
\nmind.<\/p>\n
"I was just saying that it's about time to think about
\n(retirement), right?" he deftly replied.<\/p>\n
Alatas, 65, is one of the most respected Indonesian figures on
\nthe international scene. Appointed to lead the post of foreign
\naffairs in 1988, he has now become Indonesia's longest serving
\nforeign minister.<\/p>\n
Known to his close friends as Alex, Alatas is a career
\ndiplomat who has served as Indonesia's permanent representative
\nto the United Nations.<\/p>\n
He started out as a journalist working for a stint at
\nNiewsgier daily and then Aneta news service in the early 1950s.<\/p>\n
The East Timor question has continued to dog Alatas throughout
\nhis term as foreign minister.<\/p>\n
Many observers have said that Alatas -- in the past a staunch
\ndefender of the former Portuguese colony's integration into
\nIndonesia -- may have felt undercut by President B.J. Habibie's
\ndecision to abruptly change Indonesia's policy on the issue last
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
The decision to "part ways" with East Timor if it rejected
\nspecial autonomy status within Indonesia came as a bombshell to
\neveryone.<\/p>\n
Last week, Habibie even said that by Jan. 1, 2000, East Timor
\nwould no longer be an issue for Indonesia.<\/p>\n
National pride<\/p>\n
Alatas, less than two weeks before the major policy change,
\ndismissed suggestions that no act of self-determination had
\noccurred in East Timor and that the issue was a matter of
\nnational pride.<\/p>\n
Some analysts have privately said the abrupt turn around in
\npolicy was developed by advisors close to Habibie and that the
\nforeign ministry was not consulted.<\/p>\n
Alatas rejected suggestions that his remarks about retirement
\nreflected disappointment with the new government approach to East
\nTimor.<\/p>\n
"Yes, the original idea of the second alternative came from
\nthe President. But it was thoroughly discussed and supported by
\nall of us, including myself," he contended.<\/p>\n
"It's good to have two alternatives on the table. (They are)
\nvery clear cut choices... It's always been in the back of our
\nminds that we need an alternative," he added.<\/p>\n
The current Cabinet under Habibie is expected to serve until a
\nnew president is elected by the People's Consultative Assembly in
\nNovember. (mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/alatas-ponders-retirement-once-e-timor-issue-resolved-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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