Ambassador Gelbard to resign on Jan. 20<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The United States Ambassador to Indonesia Robert
\nS. Gelbard will tender his official resignation soon after the
\ninauguration of the newly elected U.S. President, George W. Bush,
\non Jan. 20, an embassy staff said.<\/p>\n
The embassy's senior staff Abdullah Alamudi told The Jakarta
\nPost on Monday that the resignation letter will be submitted to
\nthe new president after his induction.<\/p>\n
\"It is an American tradition that whenever an opposition party
\nwins the election, all U.S. ambassadors will have to tender their
\nresignations, and this includes Ambassador Gelbard,\" Abdullah
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He further said that President-elect Bush would have to form
\nhis Cabinet first before the U.S. secretary of state could decide
\nthe fate of the U.S. ambassadors, thus naming Gelbard's
\nreplacement was not Washington's priority at the moment.<\/p>\n
Previously a narcotics officer and special envoy to the
\nBalkans, Gelbard had a long line of disputes with Indonesian
\nofficials ever since he was appointed ambassador here in October
\n1999. Some considered him arrogant and had suggested that the
\ngovernment expel him.<\/p>\n
Top Cabinet officials and senior legislators have mounted a
\nrelentless public attack on Gelbard. Many have publicly accused
\nof him of meddling in the country's domestic affairs.<\/p>\n
Separately, political observer from the Center of Strategic
\nand International Studies Kusnanto Anggoro told the Post that the
\nreplacement of Gelbard was just a matter of time since he was
\nclosely related to the democrats.<\/p>\n
\"I think he will be replaced because he has close relations
\nwith the Democratic party, which is the party that lost the
\nelection. I think the U.S. should send an ambassador who would be
\nsensitive to the domestic atmosphere,\" he said. (dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ambassador-gelbard-to-resign-on-jan-20-1447893297",
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